One of the main promoters of the Forcount cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme has pleaded guilty

One of the main promoters of the Forcount cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in New York.

Juan Tacurri was at the forefront of a “Ponzi” scheme that raised $8.4 million from predominantly Spanish-speaking investors around the world, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in a press release dated June 5.

“Takkuri was one of the most successful promoters of this scheme and raked in millions of dollars through his participation in the fraud.”

The scheme was based on false promises that investors would receive returns on Forcount’s cryptocurrency trading and mining operations, including doubling their initial investment within the first six months.

“With this guilty plea, Juan Tacori is held accountable for exploiting individual investors and selling them a fabricated investment opportunity,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

Takkori will be sentenced on September 24, 2024 by Judge Analisa Torres, familiar with issues related to the cryptocurrency industry.

This charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Takkori was indicted again in December 2022 along with Francisli da Silva and Antonia Perez Hernandez for the role they played in the scheme between 2017 and 2021. The latter two have not been convicted or entered guilty pleas.

Williams said Takori spent millions of dollars of victims’ money on “luxury goods and real estate.”

Part of the plea agreement called for Juan Tacori to lose nearly $4 million and real estate purchased with the victims’ money.

Like many Ponzi promoters, Takkori traveled across the United States putting on lavish exhibitions and community shows aimed at enticing victims to invest in the Ponzi scheme.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said he would emphasize the importance of achieving financial freedom while bragging about the money he made through the program.

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Those who were persuaded by Takuri would register on the Forcount portal and see the “profits” accrue – however, many victims were unable to withdraw these “profits” and ultimately lost their entire investment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office added that the few who were able to make withdrawals also faced excuses, delays and hidden fees.

Forcount then began offering the cryptocurrency “Mindexcoin” as a way to inject more liquidity into the system.

Takori said the value of the currency would increase significantly when businesses began accepting it as payment for goods and services.

But the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the information was “false” and led to further financial losses for victims.

“This office will not stop going after Ponzi schemers like Takkori, especially when they target ordinary people and workers in serious financial distress,” Williams concluded.

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