American Promoter Involved in Forcount Crypto Ponzi Scheme Admits to Wire Fraud Conspiracy

American promoter involved in the Forcount crypto Ponzi scheme admits to wire fraud conspiracy
Juan Tacuri, a 46-year-old promoter from Florida, has confessed to being part of a wire fraud conspiracy related to the global crypto Ponzi scheme Forcount. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York identified Tacuri as one of the most successful promoters within the scheme, earning millions of dollars through fraudulent activities. Tacuri could potentially face a prison sentence of up to 20 years and is set to be sentenced on September 24.
As part of his admission of guilt, Tacuri has agreed to surrender nearly $4 million in victim funds and real estate that was purchased using the ill-gotten gains.
Forcount, which later rebranded as Weltsys, targeted Spanish-speaking communities and operated as a crypto mining and trading firm. The scheme promised investors profits in exchange for purchasing crypto investment products.
Tacuri, known for his flashy lifestyle, attended extravagant expos across the U.S., where he would entice victims to invest in the fraudulent schemes, including in the Southern District of New York.
At these events, Tacuri encouraged victims to invest in order to achieve “financial freedom,” boasting about his own earnings. The atmosphere at these gatherings was described as “festive and designed to create excitement.”
Victims contributed funds through various means such as cash, checks, wire transfers, and crypto, which were then invested in the Forcount scheme. Despite having access to an online portal to track their investments, most victims were unable to withdraw any profits and ultimately lost all their investments.
“Through this guilty plea, Juan Tacuri is being held accountable for exploiting retail investors and deceiving them with a false investment opportunity,” stated U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “Tacuri managed to bring in millions of dollars from victims who could not afford to lose it, spending the money lavishly on luxury items and real estate. Our office remains committed to pursuing Ponzi schemers like Tacuri, especially when they target financially vulnerable individuals.”