US indicts crypto investor over alleged $20M fraud scheme
Summary
A federal grand jury indicted South Dakota crypto investor Benjamin Paul Wiener, 43, on 29 counts including wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft in an alleged $20 million investment scheme. Prosecutors say he induced people to invest money and digital assets through false claims, then used new investor funds to pay earlier investors and cover personal expenses after funds ran low. The alleged fraud affected dozens of victims in South Dakota, Minnesota, and nearby states. If convicted, he faces substantial prison time, including mandatory time for identity theft.
