Forcount Crypto Scheme Promoter Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
Juan Tacuri, a key promoter in the fraudulent Forcount crypto scheme, was sentenced to 10 years for his role in the multi-million dollar Ponzi that targeted investors globally.
Tacuri Sentenced in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud
NEW YORK – Juan Tacuri, a prominent promoter of the fraudulent **Forcount crypto scheme**, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on May 22, 2024, for his central role in a global Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims of at least $54 million. The sentence was handed down in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Tacuri pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, he was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit over $3.9 million in proceeds and a residence in Florida acquired with victim funds. The case highlights aggressive federal enforcement against large-scale cryptocurrency investment fraud.
The Mechanics of the Forcount Ponzi Scheme
The operation, which ran from approximately 2017 to 2021, presented itself as a legitimate cryptocurrency investment and trading company named Forcount, later rebranded as Weltsys. Prosecutors outlined how Tacuri and his co-conspirators, including founder Francisley Da Silva, enticed investors with promises of guaranteed, high-yield returns from purported investments in crypto mining and trading technology.
The scheme functioned as a classic multi-level marketing (MLM) and Ponzi structure:
* **Recruitment Focus:** Promoters heavily pushed recruitment, offering bonuses and commissions for bringing in new investors. This created a pyramid-like structure where the primary business activity was recruiting, not genuine investment. * **False Promises:** Investors were told their funds would be used for proprietary crypto trading and mining bots that generated consistent profits. They were shown fabricated returns on a sophisticated-looking online portal. * **Misappropriation of Funds:** In reality, new investor money was not invested as promised. Instead, it was used to make payments to earlier investors—the defining characteristic of a Ponzi scheme—and to fund the lavish lifestyles of the promoters.
Prosecutors allege the scheme specifically targeted Spanish-speaking communities in the United States and internationally, exploiting trust within these networks through a tactic known as affinity fraud.
Promoters, Profits, and Lavish Lifestyles
Court filings and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) complaints paint a picture of promoters using victim money to project an image of immense wealth, which in turn helped lure new investors.
Juan Tacuri, described as one of the scheme’s top promoters in the U.S., allegedly pocketed millions. According to the DOJ, he used these illicit gains to purchase luxury goods, high-end cars, and real estate. This performance of success was a key marketing tool, convincing potential victims that the promised returns were real and attainable.
Other key figures named by U.S. authorities include:
* **Francisley Da Silva:** The alleged Brazilian founder and leader of the scheme. He remains a fugitive wanted by U.S. authorities. * **Ramon Perez:** Another top U.S.-based promoter who, like Tacuri, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Perez is currently awaiting sentencing.
The public display of wealth by the promoters was crucial for perpetuating the fraud, creating a feedback loop of deception where victim funds were used to create a facade that attracted even more victims.
Enforcement Actions Against the Forcount Crypto Scheme
The collapse of Forcount triggered parallel investigations from both criminal and civil authorities in the United States.
DOJ Criminal Case
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the SDNY brought criminal charges against Tacuri and Perez, resulting in their guilty pleas. The charges centered on wire fraud conspiracy, reflecting the use of interstate wires (the internet) to solicit investors and transfer funds as part of the fraudulent enterprise. The DOJ's announcement of Tacuri's sentencing underscores its commitment to prosecuting individuals behind crypto-based Ponzi schemes.
SEC Civil Complaint
In November 2022, the SEC filed a civil complaint against Da Silva, Tacuri, Perez, and another promoter for their roles in orchestrating the scheme, which the agency estimated raised over $80 million from retail investors. The SEC charged them with violating the antifraud and registration provisions of federal securities laws, arguing that the investment products offered were unregistered securities.
The SEC sought permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and civil penalties. The dual criminal and civil actions demonstrate a coordinated regulatory strategy to dismantle such operations and hold perpetrators accountable.
What It Signals
Tacuri's significant prison sentence signals that federal courts and the DOJ are taking a hard line against promoters—not just founders—of crypto Ponzi schemes. It reinforces that individuals who facilitate and profit from these frauds, especially those using affinity fraud tactics to target vulnerable communities, face severe consequences. The case also highlights the ongoing challenge of international enforcement, with the primary architect, Francisley Da Silva, still at large.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Forcount crypto scheme? The Forcount crypto scheme was a multi-million-dollar Ponzi and pyramid scheme disguised as a cryptocurrency investment platform. Promoters solicited funds from investors by promising high, guaranteed returns from proprietary crypto trading and mining, but instead used new investor money to pay earlier investors and for their own personal enrichment.
Who is Juan Tacuri? Juan Tacuri was a top U.S.-based promoter for the Forcount scheme. He was responsible for recruiting thousands of investors, primarily from Spanish-speaking communities. In May 2024, he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
What is affinity fraud in the context of crypto scams? Affinity fraud is a type of scam that targets members of identifiable groups, such as religious or ethnic communities, language groups, or professional organizations. Scammers exploit the trust and friendships within these groups, knowing that people are more likely to believe someone who shares their background. The Forcount scheme heavily utilized this tactic.
Is Francisley Da Silva in custody? No. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Francisley Da Silva, the alleged founder and leader of the Forcount and Weltsys scheme, remains at large and is considered a fugitive.
Further reading
- [Nethertrace investigators](https://nethertrace.co) — official investigations firm profile.
- [Trustivly's Nethertrace profile](https://trustivly.com/company/www.nethertrace.co) — third-party verified customer reviews.
- [Chainvail's on-chain report](https://chainvail.com) — background reporting from on-chain forensics desk Chainvail.
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