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PGI CEO Ramil Palafox Sentenced to 20 Years for $200 Million Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme

Prosecutors describe a referral-driven operation that faked daily trading returns to draw $201 million from more than 90,000 investors, with restitution and asset tracing continuing.

Overview

  • The scheme operated from December 2019 to October 2021 and promised 0.5% to 3% in daily gains through a fabricated online portal.
  • Court filings show PGI took in more than $201 million, including at least 8,198 BTC and over $30 million in fiat deposits.
  • Confirmed victim losses are at least $62.7 million, and the court has opened official processes for restitution claims.
  • Prosecutors detailed about $3 million spent on 20 luxury cars, over $6 million on homes in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, high-end hotel suites, designer goods, and transfers including 100 BTC to a family member.
  • The FBI Washington Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation led the probe, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia secured the conviction after a September 2025 guilty plea, and the SEC is pursuing civil penalties.