August 30, 2022:
Defendant was extradited to the U.S. on a 6-count indictment charging wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracies to commit wire fraud and securities fraud in connection with the operation of eight companies that purported to offer, invest in or mine digital assets. Defendant allegedly "perpetrated a brazen scheme in which he fleeced investors who funneled millions of dollars into fraudulent cryptocurrency,” stated United States Attorney Peace. DOJ Link
Defendant allegedly used "aliases to conceal his identity, operated a series of entities the “Auzins Entities” that advertised through email campaigns, social media and websites dedicated to cryptocurrencies." "Co-conspirators induced investors to invest ... through a series of material misrepresentations and omissions about the products and services that the Auzins Entities claimed to provide, the profits that investors would earn by investing in the Auzins Entities and the individuals who operated the Auzins Entities."
Between approximately November 2017 and July 2019, individuals in the United States and elsewhere transferred at least $7 million in digital assets to the Auzins Entities." "Shortly after receiving these investments, the Auzins Entities disappeared without providing their promised services."