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Cases / States

Cases by state

Ponzi schemes in Florida

160 cases announced 2000–2026, involving about $10.1B in reported investor money. Most common types: investment funds & advisory, trading, forex & commodities and real estate. Listed by where the main defendant was based.

The largest by reported amount: Mutual Benefits Corp ($1.2B, 2009). Charges are allegations unless a court has entered a conviction or judgment.

Pitch phrases seen in these cases

Cases

DateCaseLocationIndustryAmount
Sep 25, 2026 Kristopher Lunsford
Tampa, FLTrucking & transport $105M
Apr 14, 2026 Jose Bello
FLReal estate $5.7M
Mar 31, 2026 Wells Real Estate Investment LLC
Jean Joseph (aka Jon), Janalie Camille Bingham (aka Janalie Camille Joseph)
Boca Raton, FLReal estate $50M
Feb 27, 2026 Silverback Development
Joshua Schuster
Boca Raton, FLReal estate $13M
Feb 24, 2026 Goliath Ventures (formerly Gen-Z Venture Firm)
Christopher Alexander Delgado
Apopka, FLCrypto & digital assets $328M
Nov 21, 2025 Young Pros Investment Group LLC
Brian Mitchell, Kevin Mack Jr
MIami, FLTrading, forex & commodities $1M
Nov 20, 2025 E-Card Lending LLC, E-Card Merchant LLC
Pablo Silverio Rebollido
Miami, FLLending & cash advance $40M
Nov 19, 2025 Peoples Equity Group
Simon G. Outhwaite Jr., Dakota A. Smith
Miami, FLInvestment funds & advisory $27M
Sep 23, 2025 Taino "Tai" Lopez, Alexander Mehr, Maya Burkenroad
Miami, FLInvestment funds & advisory $112M
Sep 5, 2025 Azure Waterfront Consulting LLC, Azure Waterfront (Real Estate) LLC
Jerald Benjamin Clawson
Orlando, FLReal estate $5.3M
Jul 8, 2025 RAD Diversified REIT Inc., The Seminar Solution LLC
Brandon "Dutch" Mendenhall, Amy Vaughn
Tampa, FLReal estate $152M
Jun 4, 2025 Royal Bengal Logistics Inc
Sanjay Singh
Coral Springs, FLTrucking & transport $158M
May 28, 2025 Kronus Financial Corporation, Finser International Corporation
Andrew Hamilton Jacobus
Fort Lauderdale, FLInvestment funds & advisory $94M
Oct 31, 2024 Pannon Investment Advisors LLC, Pannon Risk-Managed Income Fund
Dusan Varga
Miami, FLTrading, forex & commodities $1.6M
Sep 12, 2024 Aureus Revenue Group LLC
Emir Jesus Matos Camargo
Orlando, FLTrading, forex & commodities $1.5M
Sep 3, 2024 Toller Stern Financial LLC
Francisco Javier Malave Hernandez, Ricardo Javier Guerra Farias
Miami, FLTrading, forex & commodities $5M
Aug 12, 2024 NovaTech Ltd.
Cynthia Petion, Eddy Petion
Wellington, FLCrypto & digital assets $650M
Jan 3, 2024 Location Ventures LLC, URBIN LLC
Rishi Kapoor
Miami, FLReal estate $93M
Dec 14, 2023 Titanium Capital LLC
Henry Abdo, Carol Ann Barsh
North Palm Beach, FLInvestment funds & advisory $5.3M
Sep 26, 2023 One Bell & Associates Inc
Patrick Wonsey
Riverview, FLTrading, forex & commodities $3.4M
Sep 22, 2023 Empirex Capital LLC
Rafael Alberto Vargas Gonzalez (aka Rafael Vargas)
Miami, FLCrypto & digital assets $6.6M
Sep 19, 2023 MFB 111 Investment LLC
Monise Francois Bien Aime
Pembroke Pines, FLReal estate $1.8M
Sep 12, 2023 ESOS Rings Inc.
Michelle Silverstein Bisnoff (aka Michelle Silverstein, Michelle Bisnoff)
Boca Raton, FLInvestment funds & advisory $2M
Aug 8, 2023 Craig Sherman
Boca Raton, FLReal estate $7M
Jul 28, 2023 Tadrus Capital LLC, Tadrus Capital Fund LP
Mina Tadrus
Tampa, FLTrading, forex & commodities $5M
Jul 27, 2023 Accanito, Surge LLC
Brent Seaman
Sarasota, FLInvestment funds & advisory $35M
Jul 26, 2023 1 Global Capital LLC
Carl R. Ruderman
Hallandale Beach, FLLending & cash advance $250M
Jul 13, 2023 Todd Financial Services LLC, TFS Insurance Services LLC
Joseph Michael Todd
Panama City, FLInvestment funds & advisory $3M
Jun 23, 2023 Michael Wayne Williams
Miami, FLTrading, forex & commodities $3.6M
May 4, 2023 G8 Equity LLC, G8 RE Capital LLC
Cedric Dewayne Griffin
Jacksonville, FLReal estate $5.9M
Mar 6, 2023 BKCoin Management LLC
Min Woo Kang (aka Kevin Kang)
Miami, FLCrypto & digital assets $100M
Dec 22, 2022 Leo Growl LLC
Mark Ramkishun
Orlando, FLTrading, forex & commodities $1.3M
Dec 14, 2022 Forcount (later Weltsys)
Antonia Perez Hernandez, Francisley da Silva, Juan Tacuri
Tampa, FLCrypto & digital assets $8.4M
Nov 4, 2022 Trade Coin Club
Douver Torres Braga, Joff Paradise, Keleionalani Akana Taylor, Jonathan Tetreault
FLCrypto & digital assets $295M
Oct 12, 2022 The Credit Engineers Inc.
David Joseph Varrone, Sherry Varrone
Weston, FLTrading, forex & commodities $6.4M
Sep 27, 2022 Pinder Associates Inc
Judith Dianne Paris-Pinder
Miami, FLLegal & litigation funding $4.6M
Jul 29, 2022 Gilbert J. Peter Jr.
Parkland, FLInvestment funds & advisory $3M
Jul 27, 2022 Chalala Academy LLC, Lendvesting Academy Corp
Alexandra Robert
FLLending & cash advance $900,000
Jun 30, 2022 EmpiresX
Joshua David Nicholas, Emerson Pires, Flavio Goncalves
Stuart, FLCrypto & digital assets $100M
May 6, 2022 Mining Capital Coin
Luiz Capuci Jr.
Port St. Lucie, FLCrypto & digital assets $62M
Mar 3, 2022 Platinum Bay Capital Management LLC, Dash Pro Services Inc.
Americo Antunes (aka Rick Antunes)
Altamonte Springs, FLTrading, forex & commodities $2M
Oct 21, 2021 John E. Acker
Santa Rosa Beach, FLReal estate $4M
Sep 27, 2021 Sky Group USA LLC, EEB Capital Group LLC
Efrain Betancourt Jr.
Miami, FLInvestment funds & advisory $66M
Aug 13, 2021 MJ Capital Funding LLC, MJ Taxes and More Inc.
Joel Castellanos, Johanna M. Garcia
Tamarac, FLLending & cash advance $196M
Jul 1, 2021 Ross Baldwin, Robert Jeffrey Johnson, Kathleen Hook
FLEnergy & alternative assets $6.9M
Jun 11, 2021 Thomas Coelho (aka Thomas Jurewicz)
St. Petersburg, FLInvestment funds & advisory $1.8M
Jun 7, 2021 Property Income Investors LLC, Equinox Holdings Inc.
Larry B. Brodman, Anthony Nicolosi
Coral Springs, FLInvestment funds & advisory $9.1M
May 14, 2021 Tri-Med Corporation
Jeremy Kee Anderson
FLInvestment funds & advisory $10.3M
Apr 27, 2021 Harbor City Capital Corp, Celtic Enterprises LLC
Jonathan P. Maroney, Tonya Maroney
Melbourne, FLInvestment funds & advisory $17.1M
Apr 23, 2021 The W Trade Group
Larry Ramos Mendoza
Miami, FLTrading, forex & commodities $21M
Feb 19, 2021 Highrise Advantage LLC
Avinash Singh
Orlando, FLTrading, forex & commodities $57M
Jan 28, 2021 Angel Investment Partners
David Aubel (aka David Kost), Nelson Armondo Garcia
FLInvestment funds & advisory $2.4M
Sep 30, 2020 Treasure Coast Property Enterprises LLC
Thomas J. Gity
FLTrading, forex & commodities $6.8M
Sep 25, 2020 Mazzone Films
David Wade Watson, Rajshree Patel
Cape Canaveral, FLLegal & litigation funding $2.5M
Jul 16, 2020 The Alista Group LLC
Marvin W. Courson III, Luis M. Pineda Palacios (aka Luis Pineda), Christopher A. Kertatos
FLEnergy & alternative assets $890,500
Jun 29, 2020 Phillip Roy Wasserman, Kenneth Murry Rossman
Sarasota, FLInsurance-linked $6.3M
Feb 18, 2020 EquiAlt LLC
Brian Davison, Barry Rybicki
Tampa, FLReal estate $170M
Nov 19, 2019 Palm Financial Management LLC, Shore Management Systems LLC
Neil Burkholz, Frank Bianco
Boca Raton, FLTrading, forex & commodities $6M
Sep 25, 2019 Kadaae LLC, Kadaae Entertainment Corp.
Andres Fernandez
Orlando, FLInvestment funds & advisory $20.7M
Sep 25, 2019 Ahead of the Game LLC
Edison Denizard
Orlando, FLInvestment funds & advisory $10.4M
Sep 24, 2019 U.S. Coin Bullion LLC
Salvatore Esposito, Joseph Esposito
Orlando, FLEnergy & alternative assets $7.9M
Sep 20, 2019 Savage Yachts LLC
Matthew Preston Taylor
Madeira Beach, FLInvestment funds & advisory $1.5M
Aug 23, 2019 Larry A. Carr
Tampa, FLInvestment funds & advisory $8.2M
Aug 3, 2019 Shayeh Dov
North Miami Beach, FLReal estate $3M
Jul 3, 2019 Oneir Sales and Rentals LLC
Joseph Bernard Charde, Allen Roy Duquet
Marco Island, FLReal estate $6M
May 21, 2019 Jose Angel Aman, Harold Seigel, Jonathan H. Seigel
FLCrypto & digital assets $30M
Apr 22, 2019 Michael J. DaCorta, Joseph S. Anile II, Raymond P. Montie III, Francisco "Frank" L. Duran, John J. Haas
Sarasota, FLTrading, forex & commodities $75M
Jan 9, 2019 Strategic Holdings Group
Jose Luis Leon, Richard A. Renner, Natalie M. Rogers
Key West, FLReal estate $7M
Aug 17, 2018 Golden Investment Inc.
Leone Alfano La Cava, Viktoriya Johnson
Orlando, FLReal estate $5M
Jul 11, 2018 Clean Energy Advisers LLC
Christopher B. Warren
Anthony, FLAgriculture & cattle $28M
Jun 26, 2018 Thomas Michael White, John Kevin Reech, Joseph Mario Genzone
Parkland, FLTrucking & transport $2M
Nov 20, 2017 Antonio Carlos de Godoy Buzaneli, Jose Manuel Ordonez Jr.
Coral Gables, FLInvestment funds & advisory $150M
Nov 16, 2017 Pedro Fort Berbel
Miami, FLInvestment funds & advisory $38M
Aug 11, 2017 Richard Paul Underwood, Colin P. Purcell, David R. Greenlee, David A. Stewart
Fort Lauderdale, FLEnergy & alternative assets $15M
Jul 19, 2017 Justin Troy Spearman
Orlando, FLEnergy & alternative assets $3.6M
Mar 27, 2017 LottoNet Operating Corp.
David Gray, Joseph A. Vitale
Pompano Beach, FLInvestment funds & advisory $4.8M
Feb 14, 2017 Gold Chasers Inc, Royal Leisure International Inc
Carlos Javier Ramirez
Orlando, FLInvestment funds & advisory $4.1M
Sep 13, 2016 Essex Holdings Inc.
Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier (aka Dr. Navin Xavier)
Miramar, FLTrucking & transport $30M
Apr 14, 2016 Jay Peak Inc., Q Resorts Inc.
Ariel Quiros, William Stenger
Miami, FLInvestment funds & advisory $350M
Dec 14, 2015 Christopher Maguire
Orlando, FLLending & cash advance $4.9M
Jul 22, 2015 Latten Management LLC
Richard L. Thompson
Sarasota, FLReal estate $2.1M
Jul 21, 2015 Lion Trading Corp
Carlos Hernan del Valle
Weston, FLInvestment funds & advisory $750,000
Jul 21, 2015 Guillermo M. Sanchez, Isabel C. Sanchez, Gustavo Giral
Cutler Bay, FLInvestment funds & advisory $10M
Jul 2, 2015 DFRF Enterprises LLC
Daniel Fernandes Rojo Filho, Wanderley M. Dalman, Gaspar C. Jesus, Eduardo N. Da Silva, Heriberto C. Perez Valdes, Jeffrey A. Feldman, Romildo Da Cunha
Winter Garden, FLInvestment funds & advisory $15M
Jun 1, 2015 Sterling Investment Fund
Phil Donnahue Williamson
Miami, FLReal estate $2M
Apr 20, 2015 Dorian A. Garcia
Naples, FLTrading, forex & commodities $4.7M
Apr 7, 2015 Capital Financial Partners LLC, Capital Financial Holdings LLC
William D. Allen, Susan C. Daub
Davie, FLLending & cash advance $31M
Feb 27, 2015 Wings Network
Sergio Henrique Tanaka, Carlos Luis da Silveira Barbosa, Claudio de Oliveira Pereira Campos
Davie, FLInvestment funds & advisory $23.5M
Jan 21, 2015 Frederic Elm (aka Frederic Elmaleh)
Fort Lauderdale, FLInvestment funds & advisory $17M
Jan 12, 2015 Allied Markets LLC
Joshua Gilliland, Chawalit Wongkhiao
Jacksonville, FLTrading, forex & commodities $1M
Sep 16, 2014 Abatement Corp. Holding Company Limited, International Balanced Fund
Joseph Laurer (aka Dr. Josef V. Laurer), Brenda Davis
Homestead, FLInvestment funds & advisory $4.6M
Jul 17, 2014 Philippe Bourciquot
Lake Worth, FLInvestment funds & advisory $3.1M
May 21, 2014 Gaeton Capital Advisors LLC
Gaeton Della Penna (aka Guy Della Penna)
Sarasota, FLTrading, forex & commodities $3.8M
May 2, 2014 Henry Thomas Hammond
Ponte Vedra Beach, FLReal estate $6.2M
Apr 8, 2014 JCS Enterprises Inc, T.B.T.I. Inc
Joseph Signore, Paul L. Schumack II
West Palm Beach, FLInvestment funds & advisory $40M
Jan 31, 2014 Storehouse Credit Union Ek.
Samuel J. Cusumano
Orlando, FLInvestment funds & advisory $17M
Jan 17, 2014 David George Dreslin
Seminole, FLReal estate $6M
Nov 25, 2013 LJS Trading LLC
Louis J. Spina
Miami, FLTrading, forex & commodities $18M
Oct 1, 2013 Maverick International Inc
Wesley Alan Brown
Flagler Beach, FLTrading, forex & commodities $2M
Sep 30, 2013 Immigration General Services
Jenny E. Coplan
Tamarac, FLInvestment funds & advisory $4M
Sep 20, 2013 Assured Capital Consultants LLC
John C. Boschert, Jenifer E. Hoffman, Bryan T. Zuzga
Apopka, FLTrading, forex & commodities $25M
Sep 5, 2013 Richard Shusterman, Jonathan E. Rosenberg, Robert Feldman, Douglas A. Kuber
Highland Beach, FLTrading, forex & commodities $275M
Aug 26, 2013 Creative Capital Consortium, A Creative Capital Concepts
George Louis Theodule
Wellington, FLTrading, forex & commodities $30M
Mar 19, 2013 Ventures Trust II LLC, Face Off Acquisitions LLC
Craig L. Berkman, John B. Kern
FLInvestment funds & advisory $13.2M
Mar 8, 2013 TLM Design and Construction Inc.
Tina Louise Mangiardi
Orlando, FLInvestment funds & advisory $2.5M
Jan 30, 2013 Cay Clubs Resorts and Marinas
Fred Davis Clark Jr. (aka Dave Clark), David W. Schwarz, Cristal R. Coleman, Barry J. Graham, Ricky Lynn Stokes
FLReal estate $300M
Nov 9, 2012 Wasson Capital Advisors Ltd.
Anand Sekaran
Miami, FLTrading, forex & commodities $2.3M
Oct 22, 2012 Odalis Freixa, Marisela Gamez
Coral Gables, FLLending & cash advance $1M
Oct 18, 2012 D3 Capital Management LLC
Donald R. French Jr.
Boca Raton, FLTrading, forex & commodities $10M
Aug 27, 2012 Paramount Limited LLC
George Kastanes, Teresa Kastanes
FLReal estate $10M
Jun 21, 2012 White Elephant Trading Company LLC
Gurudeo "Buddy" Persaud
Orlando, FLReal estate $1M
May 25, 2012 Stanley J. Shew-A-Tjon
Davie, FLInvestment funds & advisory $16M
Apr 9, 2012 George Elia
Wilton Manors, FLTrading, forex & commodities $11M
Mar 6, 2012 MDN Financial Group Inc.
Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Miami, FLInvestment funds & advisory $5M
2012 PDP Capital Investments
Paul Pomfret
Palm Beach, FLTrading, forex & commodities $500,000
Dec 17, 2011 Military Air Parts International, C130Spares
Victor Brown, Roger Green
Fort Lauderdale, FLInvestment funds & advisory $6M
Nov 7, 2011 Michael W. Kwasnik, William M. Kwasnik
North Miami Beach, FLLegal & litigation funding $13M
Sep 13, 2011 Backstreet Associates Inc.
Arthur Strasnick
Ormond Beach, FLInvestment funds & advisory $1.9M
Aug 29, 2011 The Preservation of Principal Fund
James Davis Risher (aka Jay Risher)
Sanibel, FLTrading, forex & commodities $21M
Jun 29, 2011 A&O Companies
David L. Olson, Edward A. Allen
Lakeland, FLReal estate $14M
Jun 28, 2011 Jamie Campany
FLEnergy & alternative assets $25M
Jun 24, 2011 Invers Forex LLC
Juvenal Eduardo Machado
Miami, FLTrading, forex & commodities $786,000
Jun 8, 2011 CMG Property Investment Group LLC
Anthony F. Cutaia
Boynton Beach, FLReal estate $1.6M
Apr 28, 2011 MMJ's Warehouse, VLM Enterprise
Marguerite Martial Jean
FLInvestment funds & advisory $3.4M
Apr 6, 2011 New Century Investment Management LLC
Ward Onsa
Marco Island, FLTrading, forex & commodities $2.2M
Mar 30, 2011 James Clements, Zeina Smidi
FLTrading, forex & commodities $30M
Mar 17, 2011 Queen Shoals Consultants LLC
Gary D. Martin
St. Augustine, FLTrading, forex & commodities $1.4M
Dec 21, 2010 Robert L. Buckhannon, Terry D. Rawstern, Dale E. St. Jean, Gregory D. Tindall, Richard D. Mittasch, Christopher T. Paganes, Glenn M. Barikmo
Bradenton, FLTrading, forex & commodities $34M
Dec 17, 2010 Albert E. Gilner, Randi A. Bochinski
New Smyrna Beach, FLInvestment funds & advisory $5.2M
Dec 6, 2010 AdSurf Daily
Thomas A. Bowdoin Jr.
Quincy, FLInvestment funds & advisory $110M
Nov 23, 2010 Lydia Cladek Inc
Lydia I. Cladek
St. Augustine, FLInvestment funds & advisory $113.2M
Nov 10, 2010 Zada Enterprises LLC
Joseph Paul Zada
Wellington, FLEnergy & alternative assets $20M
Nov 4, 2010 David R. Lewalski
Gainesville, FLTrading, forex & commodities $30M
Sep 30, 2010 Creative Financial Funding, American National Mortgage Partners
Lawrence William Dunning
Highland Beach, FLReal estate $22M
Aug 18, 2010 David A. Smith
FLTrading, forex & commodities $220M
Jun 22, 2010 Trade-LLC, BD LLC, TWTT-LLC, CMJ Capital LLC
Philip W. Milton, William Center
Palm Beach Gardens, FLTrading, forex & commodities $28M
Jun 2, 2010 Lucky Star Diamonds Inc, Luis Felipe Jewelry Design Corp
Luis Felipe Perez
Miami, FLLending & cash advance $40M
May 26, 2010 Durante Realty
Charlotte Durante
Delray Beach, FLNot specified $1.8M
Apr 21, 2010 Capitol Investments USA Inc
Nevin K. Shapiro
Miami Beach, FLInvestment funds & advisory $900M
Mar 26, 2010 Pure Class Inc
Michael Greenberg
Largo, FLInvestment funds & advisory $53M
Mar 16, 2010 Cyber Market Group LLC
Patrick H. Rakotonanahary
FLTrading, forex & commodities $10.3M
Mar 3, 2010 Royal West Properties Inc
Gaston E. Cantens, Teresita Cantens
Miami, FLReal estate $135M
Feb 13, 2010 Henri Zogaib
Daytona Beach, FLInvestment funds & advisory $5.1M
Dec 1, 2009 Rothstein Rosenfeldt and Adler P.A.
Scott Rothstein
Fort Lauderdale, FLLegal & litigation funding $1.2B
Oct 16, 2009 HomePals Investment Club LLC, HomePals LLC
Ronnie Eugene Bass Jr., Abner Alabre, Brian J. Taglieri
FLTrading, forex & commodities $14.3M
Oct 15, 2009 David F. Merrick
Apopka, FLTrading, forex & commodities $22M
Sep 3, 2009 Diamond Ventures LLC
Beau Diamond
Sarasota, FLTrading, forex & commodities $38M
Aug 12, 2009 Paul Robert Karr
North Miami Beach, FLTrading, forex & commodities $4M
Jul 14, 2009 Sand Dollar Investing Partners LLC
Sean Nathan Healy
Weston, FLTrading, forex & commodities $15M
Jun 12, 2009 Morgan European Holdings ApS, Bowman Marketing Group Inc
John Morgan, Marian Morgan, Stephen E. Bowman, Thomas D. Woodcock Jr.
Sarasota, FLTrading, forex & commodities $11M
May 21, 2009 Michael J. Riolo
Boca Raton, FLTrading, forex & commodities $44M
Jan 21, 2009 Arthur Nadel
Sarasota, FLTrading, forex & commodities $162M
Jan 6, 2009 James Asset Advisory LLC
Anthony A. James
FLInvestment funds & advisory $5.3M
Jan 5, 2009 Mutual Benefits Corp
Joel Steinger (aka Joel Steiner), Steven Steiner (aka Steven Steinger), Michael McNerney, Anthony Livoti Jr.
FLInsurance-linked $1.2B
Oct 30, 2008 The Bottom Line of South Florida Inc, Summit Trading LLC
Andres L. Pimstein
Miami, FLInvestment funds & advisory $30M
Aug 20, 2008 Den Haag Capital LLC
Manyu Ogale
Jacksonville, FLTrading, forex & commodities $20M
Apr 17, 2006 Jack Utsick, Robert Yeager, Donna Yeager
Miami Beach, FLLending & cash advance $300M
Jun 9, 2005 Focus Financial Associates Inc., Focus Development Center Inc.
Max Francois, Aiby Pierre-Louis, Jean Fritz Montinard
Miami, FLInvestment funds & advisory $6M
Mar 14, 2002 World Vision Entertainment Inc.
Jamie P. Piromalli, Steven Brewer, A. Michael Jaillett, Richard Mann, Seth Miller
Altamonte Springs, FLInvestment funds & advisory $64M
Jan 21, 2000 Chemical Trust, U.S. Guarantee Corp, United Marketing Trust
Virgil W. Womack, Clifton Wilkinson, Lewey L. Cato III, Alvin A. Tang, Kurtis Keith Lowe, Woody Keith Lowe, Jerry Lynn Ruyle, Robert Alen Blackburn
FLInvestment funds & advisory $17M