Forcount Ponzi scheme promoter gets 20-year prison sentence

Juan Tacuri, a senior promoter of the Forcount Ponzi scheme, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, as announced by the United States Department of Justice. 

The scheme, which was later rebranded as Weltsys, defrauded investors of $8.4 million. 

Tacuri was also ordered to pay $3,610,718 in restitution and will face a year of supervised release after completing his prison term.

The Southern District of New York announced the sentence on Oct. 15, with Judge Analisa Torres imposing the maximum statutory sentence of 240 months. 

Prosecutors revealed that the scheme primarily targeted Spanish-speaking communities, misleading them into believing they were investing in a legitimate cryptocurrency mining and trading company.

United States Attorney Damian Williams commented on the case, stating, “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." 

Williams emphasised that the harsh sentence serves as a “stark reminder that, in the long run, fraud does not pay.”

The scheme involved Tacuri and other promoters luring investors by promising significant returns, claiming that their funds would double in six months. 

They hosted elaborate events across the United States to attract potential investors. 

However, instead of investing, Tacuri and his associates used the funds for personal luxuries, including real estate and other assets. 

Reports indicate that customers began facing difficulties withdrawing their investments as early as 2018, and by 2021, the operators had stopped addressing complaints altogether.

In 2022, U.S. prosecutors unsealed charges against Francisley da Silva, the founder of Forcount. 

Tacuri later pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy in June 2024. 

Other promoters, including Antonia Perez Hernandez and Nestor Nunez, also admitted to similar charges in July.