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OmegaPro Founder and Co-Conspirator Charged by U.S. DOJ in $650M Ponzi Scheme
Michael Shannon Sims, a founder and promoter of OmegaPro, and Juan Carlos Reynoso, who led OmegaPro’s operations in Latin America and some parts of the U.S.
Jul 9, 2025, 5:26 a.m.
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What to know:
- The ponzi scheme, which involves crypto, was established in 2019 by Michael Shannon Sims and others.
- One of the co-founders was arrested in Turkey in 2024.
- OmegaPro promised investors 300% return in 16 months, by trading in foreign exchange.
In this article
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged two individuals for their role in OmegaPro, a crypto and investment ponzi scheme which defrauded investors of over $650 million.
Michael Shannon Sims, a founder and promoter of OmegaPro, and Juan Carlos Reynoso, who led OmegaPro’s operations in Latin America and some parts of the U.S., were charged on conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, according to documents published on Tuesday.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
OmegaPro was an international investment scheme, which collapsed in 2022. In 2024, Andreas Szakacs, the co-founder of the scheme, was arrested in Turkey in his involvement with OmegaPro.
“As alleged, the defendants preyed upon vulnerable individuals in the U.S. and abroad, defrauding them of over $650 million by making false promises of substantial returns and that their money was safe,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the justice department’s criminal division.
OmegaPro was established in early 2019, by Sims and others. According to the document, the defendants and others promised investors 300% return over 16 months through foreign exchange trading. Investors were instructed to purchase these investment packages using crypto.
Read more: OmegaPro Co-Founder Arrested in Turkey on Suspicion of $4B Ponzi Scheme: Report
Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.
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