2,800 Investors Devastated as Crypto CEO's $9.4M Ponzi Scheme Collapses

A U.S. court has sentenced Travis Ford, the CEO of Wolf Capital Crypto Trading LLC, to five years in federal prison for orchestrating a $9.4 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded nearly 2,800 investors. Ford, 36, of Glenpool, Oklahoma, also faces over $1 million in forfeiture and $170,000 in restitution, as announced by the DOJ and USPIS. The sentencing, delivered on November 14, 2025, follows Ford's January 2025 guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Ford operated Wolf Capital from January 2023 through August 2023, promoting the firm as a high-yield cryptocurrency investment platform. He advertised daily returns of 1–2% (equivalent to 547% annually) using a professional website and social media campaigns. Court documents reveal that Ford and his co-conspirators made these claims knowing they were impossible to sustain. Instead, investor funds were misappropriated for personal gain, including luxury purchases, gambling, and real estate, while the scheme collapsed in August 2023 when withdrawals were blocked.

The DOJ emphasized that Ford's actions left investors—many retirees and young professionals—devastated financially. "Ford did not actually invest most of the money as promised," the agency stated. "Instead, he used new money from recent investors to pay returns to earlier ones, a classic Ponzi structure." The case was investigated by the USPIS, which traced financial records and promotional materials to build the case against Ford.

The ruling adds to a global surge in cryptocurrency fraud. Earlier this year, a Chinese woman dubbed "cryptoqueen" was sentenced to 11 years for a $6 billion Bitcoin Ponzi scheme, while North Korean hackers were linked to a $1.5 billion theft from ByBit exchanges. The DOJ recently announced a Scam Center Strike Force to combat such schemes, particularly those originating in Southeast Asia and China.

Ford's case underscores the risks of unregulated crypto investments. "The frequency of scams has escalated shockingly in 2025," noted one source, citing over $2.17 billion in losses in the first half of the year alone. Prosecutors criticized Ford for blaming "market pressures" for his crimes during sentencing, calling it an attempt to deflect responsibility.

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Cryptocurrency Investment Firm Founder Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Defrauding Investors in $9.4M Ponzi Scheme

Wolf Capital co-founder Travis Ford jailed 5 years over $9.4m Ponzi scheme

Wolf Capital CEO Sentenced to 5 Years in Jail for Ponzi Scheme

Wolf Capital CEO Receives Five-Year Prison Term in $9.4 Million Crypto Fraud Case

US Man Behind $9.4 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme Learns His Fate in Court