{"id":12140,"date":"2026-08-20T16:24:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T16:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=12140"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T16:24:13","slug":"fbi-gets-alleged-165-million-crypto-ponzi-scheme-mastermind-back-after-year-long-fiji-escape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=12140","title":{"rendered":"FBI gets alleged $165 million crypto Ponzi scheme mastermind back after year-long Fiji escape"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Edward Zimbardi has been returned to the US after being deported from Fiji, putting the alleged mastermind of a $165 million crypto investment scheme back within reach of federal prosecutors.<\/p>\n

A federal grand jury in Georgia indicted Zimbardi on July 8 on 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the US Attorney\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors allege Zimbardi operated The Crypto Program from June 2022 through August 2023, selling advertising packages that promised investors guaranteed monthly returns of 25%.<\/p>\n

Thousands of investors sent more than $165 million in cryptocurrency to wallets secretly controlled by Zimbardi, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

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Related Reading<\/span><\/p>\n

Crypto investor charged with using 8 companies and new investor cash to keep an alleged $20M fraud alive<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

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Rather than using the money as advertised, Zimbardi allegedly directed more than $34 million into high-risk foreign currency trading, used funds from newer investors to pay earlier participants, and spent at least $10 million on personal expenses.<\/p>\n

Those expenses allegedly included luxury vehicles, a home for his son, and alimony payments.<\/p>\n