CFTC Recovers $18 Million in Digital Assets from Alleged Ponzi Scheme

According to Foresight News, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has recovered $18 million in digital assets linked to an alleged commodity pool Ponzi scheme. Oregon resident Sam Ikkurty has been accused of defrauding investors through a purported 'crypto hedge fund.' Ikkurty promised to return 'net profits' to investors but failed to do so, and did not inform investors that the fund's performance had plummeted by 98.99% within a few months. U.S. District Court Judge Mary Rowland for the Northern District of Illinois has ordered Ikkurty and several related entities to pay a total of $209 million in penalties. This includes nearly $84 million in customer restitution, approximately $37 million in disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and about $110 million in civil monetary penalties. Additionally, Ikkurty has been ordered to pay over $14 million in contempt of court fines.