CoinTelegraph

Alleged $165M crypto Ponzi mastermind faces US charges after Fiji deportation

August 18, 2026•12:21 AM

Edward Zimbardi, the alleged mastermind behind a $165 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, has been deported from Fiji and faces federal fraud and money laundering charges in the United States. Operating "The Crypto Program" from June 2022 to August 2023, Zimbardi allegedly lured thousands of investors with promises of guaranteed 25% monthly returns. US prosecutors claim he lost over $34 million on currency trades and spent at least $10 million personally.

His deportation from Fiji was coordinated with the FBI and State Department, with the defendant scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate in Los Angeles. This case underscores the increasing risks in cryptocurrency investments and the aggressive stance authorities are taking against digital fraud schemes. The operation, which promised guaranteed returns, represents one of the largest crypto fraud cases of the year, warning investors about the dangers of investment opportunities that seem too good to be true.

This is a summarized and adapted version by Artificial Intelligence. To read the complete original story, visit the official source.

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