Briefly
A federal decide ordered Eddy Alexandre and EminiFX to pay $228.5 million in restitution to victims of a crypto Ponzi scheme that promised pretend weekly returns of 5% to 9.99% utilizing nonexistent “AI buying and selling know-how.”
Alexandre exploited his place of belief inside Lengthy Island’s Haitian group and his personal church congregation to recruit over 25,000 traders between September 2021 and Could 2022.
The CFTC’s civil victory follows Alexandre’s July 2023 felony sentencing to 9 years in jail, with court-appointed receivers already distributing recovered funds to defrauded traders since January 2025.
A federal decide has ordered Eddy Alexandre and his firm EminiFX to pay $228.5 million in restitution to traders who misplaced cash in what authorities known as a ‘brazen’ crypto Ponzi scheme that bilked over 25,000 individuals out of greater than $248 million.
U.S. District Choose Valerie Caproni granted abstract judgment Tuesday in favor of the Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee in its civil enforcement motion towards Alexandre.
The ruling comes after Alexandre was already sentenced to 9 years in federal jail final July for his function in working the fraudulent EminiFX buying and selling platform.
Alexandre, who represented himself, opposed the CFTC’s movement however didn’t current proof disputing the fraud claims.
The CFTC set restitution primarily based on investor contributions minus withdrawals, with Choose Caproni including $15 million in disgorgement, offset by restitution funds.
“Fraud persists, now typically cloaked in high-tech buzzwords like AI and crypto,” Even Alex Chandra, companion at IGNOS Legislation Alliance, instructed Decrypt, including how “rigorous verification is crucial” for ventures promising outsized returns.
“Teams with restricted monetary literacy are prime targets,” he added, making investor schooling essential for group safety. “Regardless of how stylish the know-how, labels like AI or crypto don’t forestall fraudulent exercise.”
U.S. Lawyer Damian Williams beforehand known as Alexandre’s conduct “brazen,” noting he exploited belief in his church and Haitian group to attract in traders.
A historical past of fraud
Federal prosecutors first introduced costs three years again, when Alexandre was arrested for commodities and wire fraud after soliciting $59 million from early traders.
Alexandre operated EminiFX from September 2021 by way of Could 2022, promising traders “assured” weekly returns of 5% to 9.99% by way of automated crypto and foreign currency trading utilizing what he known as a “commerce secret” know-how dubbed “Robo-Advisor Assisted Account (RA3).”
EminiFX misplaced cash throughout 24 of its 30 weeks of operation, and even in its greatest week, when Alexandre reported returns of 9.98%, the precise return was simply 2.28%.
“The weekly figures [he] supplied weren’t primarily based on funding returns,” Alexandre admitted in a felony sentencing letter.
Prosecutors stated Alexandre diverted at the least $15 million to non-public accounts, spending on luxurious vehicles, together with a BMW and a Mercedes-Benz.
“Alexandre’s responsible plea within the Felony Motion prevents him from denying legal responsibility,” the court docket decided, making use of the doctrine of collateral estoppel, which prevents defendants from re-litigating points already determined in prior proceedings.
An fairness receiver appointed by the court docket has been overseeing asset restoration efforts, with distributions to defrauded traders already underway since January 2025.
The case stays open as restoration efforts proceed.
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