The Durham Regional Police Service shared particulars on the arrest of 25-year-old Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed Crypto King, describing the investigation as probably the most important within the area’s historical past.
Officers held a press convention on Venture Swan Thursday, which detailed the investigation into Pleterski and his alleged confederate, 27-year-old Colin Murphy of Oshawa.
Police confirmed that Pleterski, who was taken into custody on Could 12, was allegedly soliciting traders as lately as February. His charges embrace fraud over $5,000 and laundering proceeds of crime.
“A lot of lives have been devastated by this,” mentioned Monetary Crimes Unit detective David Jaciuk. “It’s very emotional for individuals.”
In July 2022, Durham Regional Police started receiving complaints about funding fraud involving a person from the Whitby space, alleged to be Pleterski. Over 16 months, investigators from the Monetary Crimes Unit authored over 40 courtroom orders and gathered proof.
A DRPS spokesperson mentioned that roughly $40 million was fraudulently obtained via the Crypto King from over 300 victims throughout Ontario. In response to courtroom paperwork obtained by CityNews, Pleterski raised roughly $41.5 million from traders however invested just one.6 per cent of that cash.
“Mr. Pleterski claimed to be an extremely profitable investor in foreign exchange in cryptocurrency,” mentioned Durham Regional Police Chief Peter Moreira.
It’s alleged that the self-proclaimed Crypto King used investor funds to buy luxurious automobiles, together with McLarens, Lamborghinis, Audis, and BMWs. The trustee report mentioned about $431,000 had been recovered from his financial institution accounts.
By the investigation, authorities additionally turned conscious of Murphy’s involvement within the alleged monetary rip-off. On Could 10, he was arrested in Whitby and charged with fraud.
Neither Pleterski nor Murphy was registered with the Ontario Securities Fee.
