As a seasoned crypto investor who has closely followed the developments in the Ontario crypto scene, I’m deeply troubled by the recent arrest of Aiden Pleterski and the allegations against him. The news of his arrest and the alleged Ponzi scheme that he was running comes as a stark reminder of the risks involved in this industry.


Ontario’s self-proclaimed “Crypto King,” Aiden Pleterski, was taken into custody on charges of fraud and money laundering in connection with an alleged Ponzi scheme. This arrest came after a comprehensive investigation into financial wrongdoings that is among the most extensive in the region’s history.

Twenty-five-year-old individuals, in conjunction with twenty-seven-year-old Colin Murphy, are accused of swindling around thirty million dollars from unaware people.

Crypto King’s Arrest

Canadian authorities have been investigating a 16-month long case named “Project Swan” following media coverage of a bankruptcy proceeding. This probe, which gained considerable attention in Canada, has led to the filing of charges related to an alleged scheme.

According to authorities, this probe featured talks with multiple victims, a considerable number of subpoenas, and extensive piles of financial records amounting to thousands of pages.

The official press release stated,

I’m an analyst examining the recent legal proceedings. Mr. Pleterski is currently facing two charges: one for fraudulently obtaining more than $5,000 in violation of Section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code, and another for laundering proceeds from a Canadian crime under Section 462.31(1)(a). However, due to a publication ban issued on May 14, 2024, according to subsection 517(1) of the Criminal Code, I’m unable to disclose any further details regarding the allegations against him.

Stephen Henkel from the Ontario Securities Commission pointed out that Pleterski had never been registered with any Canadian securities regulatory body, implying that he might have been actively seeking investors as late as February 2024.

The Kidnapping

As a researcher, I want to emphasize that the accusations leveled against Pleterski have not been validated in a court of law. The Ontario authorities have chosen to keep the specifics of their investigation undisclosed. However, it is crucial to mention that Pleterski was purportedly kidnapped, physically assaulted, and endured torture at the hands of five individuals who claimed to be his tormentors during the previous year.

Based on the court documents, Toronto police apprehended the five alleged suspects on counts of kidnapping for ransom and additional offenses. One of these individuals is identified as having previously invested funds with Pleterski.

Following a three-day long captivity, court records indicate that Pleterski’s captors set him free, yet they demanded an immediate payment from him under duress. In an obtained video by CBC News, a clearly bruised and injured Pleterski is heard expressing regret and apologizing for any harm caused during the kidnapping incident. His legal representative confirmed that the recording was made during this ordeal.

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2024-05-19 22:18