Crypto Bro Jailed for Tricking Investors with AI Trading Scam

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Ryan “Brodie” Crawford, a 30-year-old so-called “crypto bro” based in Miami, has been sentenced to five years behind bars for tricking investors out of nearly $1 million by promising them infallible returns through developing advanced AI trading software.

Despite his claims of having become wealthy from skillfully navigating the worlds of crypto and the stock market, Crawford was veritably far from the successful licensed stockbroker he portrayed himself to be. In reality, he barely had the acumen to orchestrate a typical Ponzi scheme, a feature of which involves promising the early investors high returns by utilizing funds acquired from subsequent investors.


Rather than repaying his victims, Crawford was spending their money carelessly. He squandered their investments on casino gambling and high-end rental cars. His spending even covered fancy Dolce & Gabbana cheetah-print shirts, modifying his social media persona to appear the successful, wealthy business magnate he wasn’t.

Despite his fraudulent actions, Crawford embarked on launching his own cryptocurrency, wryly dubbed “Cheetah Coin”. Sweepingly, he declared sounds of impending global takeover in a video he posted on social media on December 5, 2021.

The theatrical launch of the currency also happened to coincide with Crawford’s birthday. It was an ostentatious affair celebrated at the opulent Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood. Numerous victims, however, have since attested that Cheetah Coin was more or less a pump-and-dump scheme.

Crawford did not merely stop at creating a bluff-currency. At the launch event, he presented a trading app that was a sham according to its victims. Using this event, Crawford cunningly extracted $140K from a group of NFL players which he subsequently lost in trading ventures.

Reportedly, Crawford swindled over 100 investors out of $988K between June 2020 and March 2022. In the process, he caused significant financial distress to his victims, being driven solely by greed and his own self-interest.

Among these victims was Alberto Rivera who had been baited into investing after meeting Crawford at a Scout camp attended by their children. In an act of defiance, Rivera launched a website to expose Crawford’s fraudulent activities. He reported Crawford to the FBI and the SEC, and urged other victims to follow suit.

While this case exposes the dicey side to the glamorous world of cryptocurrency, it also indicates the potential problems associated with irresponsible gambling habits. It isn’t uncommon for people to fall prey to the allure of high stakes and big wins. However, there is a safer and perhaps more fun way to enjoy the thrill of speculation in a controlled environment – online gambling.

At West Island Blog, we believe in providing a fair and immersive gaming experience for our users. We care about our community and strive to provide lists of Canada’s top online casinos every month. Whether you’re a seasoned gambler or a novice, our site offers a unique blend of fun and responsibility. So why not give it a try? Take a careful stroll down the lanes of virtual slot machines and poker tables. Just remember, it’s all about the fun and games.