The US Division of Justice introduced that Ramil Ventura Palafox, the CEO of Praetorian Group Worldwide (PGI), was sentenced to twenty years in jail.
Prosecutors said that Palafox operated a $200 million Bitcoin-based Ponzi scheme that defrauded greater than 90,000 buyers internationally.
Bitcoin Fraud Case
In accordance with courtroom paperwork, Palafox, the 61-year-old twin citizen of the US and the Philippines, owned and managed PGI and served as its chairman, chief government officer, and chief promoter. Prosecutors stated Palafox falsely claimed that PGI was engaged in Bitcoin buying and selling and marketed the agency as a multi-level advertising funding alternative. He promised buyers each day returns starting from 0.5% to three%.
In actuality, PGI was not buying and selling Bitcoin at a scale able to producing these returns, and investor payouts have been funded utilizing victims’ personal deposits or cash from new buyers. From December 2019 by means of October 2021, no less than 90,000 buyers invested greater than $201 million in PGI, together with roughly $30.3 million in fiat foreign money and no less than 8,198 BTC, price round $171.5 million on the time.
On account of the scheme, investor losses rose to over $62 million. Courtroom data reveal that Palafox created a web-based PGI portal that allowed buyers to trace what he represented as their funding efficiency. Between 2020 and 2021, the web site constantly and fraudulently displayed positive factors, which led victims to consider their investments have been worthwhile and safe.
Luxurious Automobiles, Mansions, and Lies
Palafox spent roughly $3 million on 20 luxurious automobiles, together with fashions from Porsche, Lamborghini, McLaren, Ferrari, BMW, and Bentley. He additionally spent about $329,000 on penthouse suites at a luxurious lodge chain and bought 4 houses in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, estimated to be greater than $6 million.
Further spending included roughly $3 million on luxurious clothes, watches, jewellery, and residential furnishings from retailers equivalent to Louboutin, Neiman Marcus, Gucci, Versace, Ferragamo, Valentino, Cartier, Rolex, and Hermès. Prosecutors stated Palafox additionally transferred no less than $800,000 in fiat foreign money and 100 BTC, which was then equal to $3.3 million, to a member of the family.
The Justice Division stated PGI victims could also be eligible for restitution.
Individually, PGI World’s UK entity was shut down by the UK Excessive Courtroom again in 2022. In April 2025, the US Securities and Alternate Fee (SEC) charged Palafox with orchestrating the large Ponzi scheme.
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