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Guilty plea in crypto Ponzi
Christopher Alexander Delgado, the former CEO of Goliath Ventures, pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges stemming from a crypto investment scheme prosecutors said stole at least $400 million from investors.
“pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering”
CoinDesk reported that Delgado pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering, and that he admitted to causing at least $250 million in investor losses.
Prosecutors said Goliath Ventures solicited investors from at least January 2023 through January 2026 with pitches for monthly payouts it claimed came from crypto liquidity pools.
CoinDesk said Delgado agreed to forfeit luxury assets and that his sentencing is scheduled for October 8.
CoinDesk also reported that the guilty plea follows Delgado’s February arrest, when prosecutors said Goliath had raised at least $328 million and promised investors guaranteed or low-risk monthly returns of 3% to 8%.
How the scheme was pitched
ForkLog said prosecutors described the operation as a Ponzi scheme from January 2023 to January 2026, with investors contributing at least $400 million.
ForkLog reported that Delgado persuaded victims to invest by promising monthly profits generated through cryptocurrency “liquidity pools.”
Crypto Briefing said Delgado, the 34-year-old CEO of Goliath Ventures, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering and admitted responsibility for approximately $250 million in investor losses.
Crypto Briefing added that the firm raised somewhere between $328 million and $400 million from over 1,000 investors and promised monthly returns of 3 to 8 percent through crypto liquidity pools and DeFi strategies.
Crypto Briefing said Delgado admitted he was responsible for approximately $250 million in investor losses and that he faces a potential sentence ranging from 20 to 50 years.
Sentencing, forfeiture, and victims
Orlando Sentinel reported that Delgado, 34, of Apopka, admitted to a federal judge in Orlando that as CEO of Goliath Ventures he knowingly defrauded at least 1,000 investors out of at least $250 million.
“Delgado, 34, of Apopka, admitted to a federal judge in Orlando that as CEO of Goliath Ventures he knowingly defrauded at least 1,000 investors”
Orlando Sentinel said Delgado faces up to 50 years in prison and will remain on home confinement at his $8.5 million Isleworth mansion until his sentencing scheduled for Oct. 8.
Orlando Sentinel also reported that prosecutors say they have heard from around 1,600 potential victims total and are still working to identify and verify all of them.
CoinDesk said Delgado agreed to forfeit 8 properties, 11 vehicles, 30 watches, more than 50 luxury bags and wallets, at least 29 pieces of jewelry, and several seized bank and crypto accounts as part of the agreement.
CoinDesk reported that sentencing is scheduled for October 8, and that Delgado faces up to 20 years in prison for each fraud count and up to 10 years on the money laundering count.
