Forcount Promoter Juan Tacuri Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

Juan Tacuri, the key promoter of the Forcount Ponzi scheme, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on October 15 by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Tacuri was also ordered to pay $3.6 million in restitution and will face one year of supervised release following his sentence. The Southern District of New York revealed that this Ponzi scheme primarily targeted Spanish-speaking communities and defrauded thousands of investors.

Tacuri was involved in a scheme falsely presenting Forcount as a cryptocurrency mining and trading company. He and others made false promises of high returns, convincing victims that their investments would double within six months.

“Juan Tacuri may have claimed to be involved in cutting-edge cryptocurrency investing, but, in reality, he was running one of the oldest tricks in the book — a Ponzi scheme,” stated U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

Forcount Promoter Used Extravagant Events to Lure Investors into Ponzi Scheme

Prosecutors revealed that Tacuri and other promoters organized fancy events across the U.S. to attract investors. These events were designed to present the fraudulent investment opportunities as legitimate, convincing participants that they would receive regular payouts. In reality, there was no actual product or service being offered. Instead, the money collected from new investors was used to pay earlier investors, which is the hallmark of a Ponzi scheme.

The court documents also show that Tacuri and his associates spent the funds collected from victims on personal luxuries, including real estate and high-end goods. Investors began reporting issues with withdrawing their funds as early as 2018. Despite these complaints, Tacuri continued to promote the scheme, leaving victims with significant financial losses.

Unmasking the Forcount Scheme

In 2022, U.S. authorities unsealed charges against Francisley da Silva, the founder of Forcount, further exposing the fraudulent operation. Tacuri’s involvement in the scheme culminated in his guilty plea in June 2024 to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy. In July 2024, other Forcount promoters Antonia Perez Hernandez and Nestor Nunez also pleaded guilty to similar charges.

The court ordered Tacuri to forfeit over $3.6 million, including his Florida home. Prosecutors stated that Tacuri misled victims with false promises of financial success while using their money for personal enrichment. Despite increasing complaints, Tacuri and other promoters stopped responding to inquiries by 2021, when the scheme ceased operations.

Lawrence does not hold any crypto asset. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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