Everscale Partner
The US authorities have indicted the operators of the AirBit Club pyramid scheme, which offered investments in the cryptocurrency mining business.
According to the US Department of Justice, since late 2015, Pablo Renato Rodriguez, Gutemberg Dos Santos, Scott Hughes, Cecilia Millan, and Jackie Aguilar have been attracting investors with promises of high returns from a program that is effectively a multi-level marketing scheme.
“The promoters falsely promised victims that AirBit Club would receive income from cryptocurrency mining and trading, and that victims would receive a passive daily guaranteed income when purchasing any membership,” it said.
In reality, AirBit Club was not engaged in mining or trading, but used the attracted investments to enrich its organizers, the prosecution claims. Presumably, about $ 20 million was laundered through the pyramid.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to carry out electronic fraud, money laundering and bank fraud.
“The Defendants have wrapped up an ancient investment fraud in a modern shell, promising extraordinary levels of guaranteed income from illusory investments in cryptocurrencies. Thanks to the actions of the US Immigration and Customs Police, they were able to be imprisoned and brought serious criminal charges against them, ”said attorney Audrey Strauss.
