The U.S. Department of Justice announced on October 15 that Juan Tacuri, a senior promoter of the Forcount Ponzi scheme, later rebranded as Weltsys, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Sentencing Announcement

Juan Tacuri was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay $3,610,718 in restitution. He will also serve one year of supervised release following his prison term. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in the Southern District of New York, who imposed the maximum penalty of 240 months. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams remarked, 'Tacuri claimed to be involved in cryptocurrency investing but was running one of the oldest tricks in the book — a Ponzi Scheme.'

Fraud Scheme Details

Tacuri and others promoted Forcount as a crypto mining and trading company, luring victims with promises of substantial returns. In reality, there was no legitimate business, and funds collected were used to support the lavish lifestyles of the perpetrators. The scam primarily targeted Spanish-speaking communities globally.

Investigation and Verdicts

Charges against Forcount founder Francisley da Silva were unsealed in 2022, amid years of complaints about withdrawal issues dating back to 2018. Tacuri pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy in June 2024. A month later, two additional promoters, Antonia Perez Hernandez and Nestor Nunez, also pleaded guilty to similar charges.

Juan Tacuri’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder that fraud does not pay. Efforts to hold all Forcount scheme participants accountable continue.