Key Takeaways:
- Juan Tacuri has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in the $8.4 million Forcount crypto Ponzi scheme.
- The Brazil-based scam defrauded Spanish-speaking investors by falsely promising to double their investments within six months.
- Tacuri faces up to 20 years in prison and has agreed to forfeit nearly $4 million and properties bought with victim funds.
Juan Tacuri, a 46-year-old from Florida, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in the Forcount crypto Ponzi scheme.
This Brazil-based scam defrauded Spanish-speaking investors worldwide out of $8.4 million by promising their investments would double within six months.
Juan Tacuri pleaded guilty today for his involvement in a sweeping crypto-investment scam — a multi-million dollar pyramid-Ponzi money laundering conspiracy — following an extensive investigation by @HSINewYork’s El Dorado Task Force. More below: https://t.co/OKtU3OUmIl pic.twitter.com/0ncg7zmEpa
— HSI New York (@HSINewYork) June 5, 2024
However, Forcount never engaged in any mining or trading activities as claimed.
Instead, Tacuri and other promoters used new investors’ money to pay earlier investors and fund their extravagant lifestyles, including luxury goods and real estate.
Tacuri hosted lavish expos across the U.S., enticing new investors with promises of financial freedom and showcasing his wealth through designer clothing.
As part of his plea deal, Tacuri agreed to forfeit nearly $4 million and properties bought with victim funds.
Today @SDNYLIVE JUAN TACURI, a senior promoter in the cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme known as Forcount (later Weltsys), pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before Judge Analisa Torres. The Forcount scheme principally targeted Spanish-speaking populations pic.twitter.com/fhnlEa98w7
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) June 5, 2024
He faces up to 20 years in prison and will be sentenced on September 24.
The SEC has also filed civil charges against Tacuri and his associates.