According to Cointelegraph, the United States Department of Justice announced that Juan Tacuri, a senior promoter of the Forcount Ponzi scheme, which was later rebranded to Weltsys, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on October 15. Tacuri was also ordered to pay $3,610,718 in restitution and will serve one year of supervised release following his prison term.
Prosecutors revealed that Tacuri's fraudulent activities primarily targeted Spanish-speaking communities worldwide. The 240-month sentence, delivered by Judge Analisa Torres, represents the maximum statutory penalty. United States Attorney Damian Williams commented on the case, stating that Tacuri's claim of involvement in cryptocurrency investing was merely a front for a classic Ponzi scheme. Williams emphasized that the maximum sentence serves as a stark reminder that fraud does not pay in the long run.
The Department of Justice detailed that the founders and promoters of Forcount misled potential clients by presenting the company as a legitimate crypto mining and trading firm. Tacuri and his associates attracted victims with promises of regular payouts from Forcount's supposed operations. They hosted extravagant events across the United States to entice investors, promising to double their capital within six months. However, there was no actual product, and the promoters used the stolen funds to purchase luxury goods and real estate.
Legal documents indicated that customers began reporting withdrawal issues as early as 2018, and by 2021, the scam's perpetrators had ceased responding to complaints. In 2022, US prosecutors unsealed charges against Francisley da Silva, the founder of Forcount. In June 2024, Tacuri pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy. In July, Antonia Perez Hernandez and Nestor Nunez, also promoters of the Forcount scheme, pleaded guilty to similar charges.
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