Antonia Perez Hernandez, a key promoter of the cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme Forcount, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The sentencing comes as part of ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for fraudulent crypto activities.
Details of the Case
In a January 27 hearing at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Judge Analisa Torres handed down the sentence. Hernandez admitted to her role in the scheme, which defrauded investors of roughly $8.4 million between 2017 and 2021 by falsely promising lucrative returns through crypto trading and mining.
“Ms. Hernandez sold valueless coins,” Judge Torres remarked during the sentencing, adding that there was evidence she had continued similar actions after the scheme. Hernandez expressed remorse, apologizing to those who lost money.
Forcount’s senior promoter, Juan Tacuri, received a 20-year prison sentence in October 2024. Another co-conspirator, Nestor Nuñez, was sentenced to four years in November after pleading guilty.
How Forcount Operated
Prosecutors revealed that Forcount’s founders and promoters lured victims by falsely claiming their investments in crypto trading and mining would double in value within six months. Instead, funds from new victims were used to pay earlier investors in a classic Ponzi scheme. No actual crypto trading or mining took place.
Changes in Crypto-Related Enforcement
This case marks one of the first criminal actions involving cryptocurrency under new leadership at the SDNY. Damian Williams, the former US Attorney for the district, resigned in December 2024. Following his departure, officials reportedly indicated plans to scale back resources devoted to prosecuting cryptocurrency-related crimes.
US President Donald Trump announced his intention in November to nominate Jay Clayton, a former SEC Chair, as the new US Attorney for the district. Clayton, known for his ties to Wall Street, has served as an adviser to digital asset management platform Fireblocks since leaving government service in 2020.
The sentencing of Hernandez underscores the legal system’s continued focus on addressing crypto fraud, even as enforcement priorities evolve under new leadership.
