Forcount Promoter Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison

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  • Forcount promoter Antonia Hernandez was this week sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in the Ponzi scheme
  • Forcount defrauded investors of approximately $8.4 million between 2017 and 2021
  • Hernandez had already pleaded guilty to wire fraud

Antonia Hernandez, a key promoter of the cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme Forcount, was this week sentenced to 30 months in prison. The scheme, which ran from 2017 to 2021, deceived investors with promises of lucrative returns through alleged crypto trading and mining. However, prosecutors confirmed that Forcount never engaged in legitimate cryptocurrency operations, instead using funds from new investors to pay off earlier ones.

Deception and Investor Losses

Forcount lured investors by claiming they could double their money within six months, with the scheme ultimately collecting around $8.4 million from unsuspecting victims. The scheme recruited a number of promoters to advertise the potential gains, one of whom was Hernandez, who played a significant role in attracting new investors.

In 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) took civil action against Forcount founder Juan Tacuri, Hernandez and two others involved in the scheme for violating the Securities Act, parallel to the criminal charges being filed in New York. The prior year, two other promoters of the Forcount scheme were arrested and charged with fraud.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July 2024, along with fellow promoter Nestor Nunez.

Hernandez Sold “Valueless Coins” to Victims

During sentencing, Judge Analiaa Torres condemned Hernandez’s actions, emphasizing that she had knowingly sold “valueless coins” to investors. In a statement, Hernandez expressed remorse, apologizing to those who suffered financial losses due to her role in the scheme, noting, “I deeply regret my actions and the harm they have caused” prior to her sentencing.

However, prosecutors outlined her past involvement in fraudulent activities, with Judge Torres noting that there was “some evidence she’s done it since.” Judge Torres also noted that one Forcount victim “lost her retirement savings, and her marriage” before sentencing her to 30 months in prison. 

Hernandez’s sentencing follows other convictions related to the Forcount operation. Tacuri received a 20-year prison sentence in October 2024, while Nestor Nuñez was sentenced to four years in November for their roles in the scam.

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