US federal prosecutors have charged a 26-year-old Canadian citizen in connection with a $42 million fraud scheme, claiming to raise funds for investments in crypto, TradFi markets.
Nathan Gauvin lured individuals on the social media platform Discord, directing investors to put their money into Gray Digital Capital Management Inc. and its Gray Fund products.
Multi-Million Dollar Scheme Targets Investors on Discord
According to the indictment announced by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Gauvin gave false information to a fintech firm to secure $800,000 in credit. He then used the funds to pay for personal expenses, including for a private club in London.
“In total, Gauvin fraudulently raised more than $42 million from Gray Digital investors and obtained more than $800,000 in credit from lenders,” an SEC announcement read.
Per the prosecutors, the defendant used most of the money to pay previous investors, buy luxury goods and pay his credit card bills.
“Gauvin exploited the trust of his online followers to perpetrate a brazen fraud,” said Jaime Marinaro, Associate Director of the SEC’s Fort Worth Regional Office.
Authorities arrested Gauvin in England on Wednesday on a provisional arrest warrant. The US SEC has also filed for securities fraud charges. The regulator noted that the accused continued to submit false documents to the SEC during regulatory investigations.
Further, the Federal Bureau of Investigation separately released a statement, seeking to identify potential victims of the fraud. “Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law,” the FBI said.
Crypto Fraud That Ran For Over 2 Years
The indictment said that from May 2022 to October 2024, Gauvin and others enticed investors to put money into Gray Digital and Gray Fund. Among the companies, the flagship fund purported to offer investors a strategy “that blends TradFi (traditional finance) and DeFi (decentralized finance).”
The defendant allegedly misrepresented Gray Digital’s performance by providing falsified documents to investors.
He also claimed that the Gray Fund generated double-digit monthly returns and held over $78 million in assets. However, in reality, the fund had a monthly compounded return of approximately 1.4% and assets were far lower than claimed.
Later, there was a second scheme that started in May 2024, which touted a “seed stock” offering in Gray Digital at $30,000 per share. At the time, Gauvin said the company had a $60 million valuation and more than $12 million in annual revenue.
The SEC has sought disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and conduct-based injunctions against Nathan Gauvin.
“Investors should always verify the credentials of anyone offering investment opportunities, especially when those opportunities are promoted through social media or online communities,” SEC’s Marinaro warned.
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