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Every state-changing event for Benaiah Capital / Benjamin Wiener: moderation decisions on community submissions, plus corrections and updates from the news pipeline. URL-based decisions are designed to carry three independent witnesses — the original source, an Internet Archive snapshot, and a Solana memo signed by our publicly-disclosed publisher key. Archive coverage is still being backfilled, so each decision below reports its own snapshot status rather than assuming one exists.

1. #1publishby system:backfill

   2026-07-25 23:12:57Z
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   {"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"b8535f43-1d0a-4bfe-a5f0-fe500904429b","kind":"publish","page_slug":"benaiah-capital-benjamin-wiener","published_at":"2026-07-25T23:12:57.086Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"Benaiah Capital / Benjamin Wiener","sections":[{"content":"A federal grand jury in the District of South Dakota returned a 29-count indictment against Benjamin Paul Wiener in June 2026. The indictment was unsealed on or around July 16, 2026. Wiener appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on July 10, 2026, entered a not guilty plea, and was released on bond. Trial is scheduled for September 15, 2026, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota.\n\nThe 29 counts are distributed across four charge categories: eight counts of wire fraud, nineteen counts of money laundering, one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri, with investigation conducted jointly by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\n\nMaximum penalties, if convicted, include up to 20 years imprisonment per count of wire fraud and money laundering, up to 30 years and a $1,000,000 fine on the bank fraud count, and a mandatory minimum consecutive two-year term for aggravated identity theft. An indictment is an allegation only; Wiener is presumed innocent unless proven guilty at trial.","heading":"Federal Criminal Indictment","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release — District of South Dakota: Sioux Falls Crypto Investor Indicted for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and"},{"credibility":2,"name":"DRG News — Sioux Falls crypto investor indicted for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft","type":"news_article","url":"https://drgnews.com/2026/07/16/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-for-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and-aggravated-identity-theft/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Dakota News Now — Sioux Falls man indicted on fraud, money laundering, and identity theft charges","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/07/16/sioux-falls-man-indicted-fraud-money-laundering-identity-theft-charges/"}]},{"content":"Prosecutors allege that since at least 2018, Wiener operated a fraud scheme through eight entities collectively referred to as the 'Benaiah entities.' These entities presented themselves as boutique crypto investment vehicles with a focus on digital assets. The scheme allegedly operated on classic Ponzi mechanics: when investor funds were depleted or an investor requested the return of capital, Wiener allegedly solicited new investors and used their funds both to satisfy earlier redemption requests and to fund personal expenditures.\n\nAccording to the indictment and related civil proceedings, the Benaiah entities collectively received approximately $25.1 million in cash from investors, plus digital assets in amounts still being determined by the court-appointed receiver. Roughly $12 million was returned to investors — described by prosecutors as fabricated 'returns' rather than genuine investment gains — while an alleged $5.7 million was diverted to Wiener's personal expenses. The remaining balance is unaccounted for in public filings.\n\nFunds were allegedly moved through various financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges 'to conceal and disguise its location, source, ownership, and control,' per DOJ allegations. One civil complaint describes Wiener's firm claiming expertise in cryptocurrency trading to induce investment, while the Kraken trading account held on behalf of at least one investor showed a balance of less than $600 when inspected in March 2025 — after the investor had committed $4 million starting in late 2021.\n\nWiener and co-defendant Christopher Hmielewski are alleged to have shuffled funds through related entities to obscure their use, including payments to themselves and to other investors. Co-defendant Joshua DeWitt is alleged to have aided in executing trades and managing operations.","heading":"Alleged Ponzi Scheme Structure and Mechanics","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoSlate — Crypto investor charged with using 8 companies and new investor cash to keep an alleged $20M fraud alive","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptoslate.com/crypto-investor-charged-with-using-8-companies-and-new-investor-cash-to-keep-an-alleged-20m-fraud-alive/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto Briefing — Benjamin Paul Wiener indicted on 29 counts over $20M crypto Ponzi scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptobriefing.com/wiener-indicted-20m-crypto-ponzi-fraud/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"SDPB — Sioux Falls man indicted for alleged $20M crypto investment fraud scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.sdpb.org/crime-courts/2026-07-16/sioux-falls-man-indicted-for-alleged-20m-crypto-investment-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Marshall Radio — Florida Trust Files Lawsuit Against Sioux Falls Crypto Fund","type":"news_article","url":"https://marshallradio.net/florida-trust-files-lawsuit-against-sioux-falls-crypto-fund/"}]},{"content":"The federal indictment identifies eight entities allegedly used by Wiener to perpetrate the fraud and money laundering scheme: (1) Benaiah Capital LLC; (2) Benaiah Holdings, Inc.; (3) Benaiah Digital Fixed Income LP; (4) Benaiah Digital LP; (5) Benaiah Management Company, Inc.; (6) Benaiah Enterprises, LLC; (7) Aslan Management, LLC; and (8) Runway Four10.\n\nCivil court filings in the parallel receivership case (Kinnetz v. Benaiah Holdings, 4:25-cv-04134) name additional related entities including Benaiah Insurance Company, ELAH Tech (a technology company), Triple Point Trading LLC, and the individual Ronald Gasca Jr. as defendants or parties of interest. Civil complaint filings allege that 'several million dollars were transferred to a related technology company that later failed to repay the funds,' a likely reference to ELAH Tech.\n\nPublic marketing materials from Benaiah Capital's website described Benaiah Holdings as a 'parent company' with subsidiaries for management and technology functions. Wiener is identified in public records as CEO of Benaiah Co. and Chairman of the Board for Benaiah Holdings, Inc. The investment adviser registration status of any Benaiah entity with the SEC or state regulators has not been independently confirmed in publicly available search results.","heading":"Entities Used in the Alleged Scheme","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release — District of South Dakota","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and"},{"credibility":1,"name":"OffshoreAlert — Timothy Kinnetz v. Benaiah Holdings Inc. et al: Receivership Complaint","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.offshorealert.com/timothy-kinnetz-v-benaiah-holdings-inc-et-al-receivership-complaint-4m-south-dakota-hedge-fund-fraud/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Leagle — Kinnetz v. Benaiah Holdings, February 2026 Order (4:25-CV-04134-CCT)","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20260227a90"}]},{"content":"In addition to the alleged multi-year investment fraud, the indictment alleges a discrete bank fraud count arising from conduct in April 2025. Prosecutors allege Wiener secured a $1,000,000 line of credit from a bank by submitting falsified documents, information, and correspondence, and that in doing so he utilized, without authorization, the personal identifying information of another individual. This conduct forms the basis for both the bank fraud count (carrying a maximum of 30 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine) and the aggravated identity theft count (carrying a mandatory two-year consecutive prison term).","heading":"Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release — District of South Dakota","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoSlate — Crypto investor charged with using 8 companies and new investor cash","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptoslate.com/crypto-investor-charged-with-using-8-companies-and-new-investor-cash-to-keep-an-alleged-20m-fraud-alive/"}]},{"content":"A parallel civil action, Kinnetz v. Benaiah Holdings, Inc. et al (Case No. 4:25-cv-04134-CCT, D.S.D.), was filed on July 18, 2025 by Timothy Kinnetz, as trustee of the Timothy A. Kinnetz Revocable Trust, a Florida-based trust that invested $4 million with Benaiah entities beginning in late 2021. Named defendants in the civil case include Benaiah Holdings, Inc.; Benaiah Capital, LLC; Benaiah Digital, LP; Benaiah Digital Fixed Income, LP; Benjamin Paul Wiener; Joshua DeWitt; Christopher Charles Hmielewski; Benaiah Enterprises LLC; Benaiah Management Company, Inc.; Runway Four10 LLC; Triple Point Trading LLC; and Ronald Gasca Jr.\n\nOn August 15, 2025, U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler granted the plaintiff's expedited motion to appoint a receiver, finding evidence of a potential fraud and concluding that 'Benjamin Wiener engaged in deceptive and misleading statements.' The court also found 'imminent danger' of asset concealment, and subsequently expanded the receiver's authority to cover more than a dozen related companies. The receiver's analysis estimated total investor cash inflows of $25.1 million across the Benaiah entities.\n\nIn February 2026, the court issued an order granting motions to intervene by Keith McKinzie, Kyle McKinzie, and Kris McKinzie — additional investors or creditors seeking to participate in the receivership proceedings. In May 2026, the court denied as moot several motions to dismiss and denied a motion to dismiss the First Amended Complaint, allowing the civil case to proceed.","heading":"Civil Receivership Proceedings (Kinnetz v. Benaiah Holdings)","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"Justia Docket — Kinnetz v. Benaiah Holdings, Inc. et al (4:2025cv04134)","type":"court_filing","url":"https://dockets.justia.com/docket/south-dakota/sddce/4:2025cv04134/83832"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Leagle — August 15, 2025 Order Granting Motion to Appoint Receiver (4:25-cv-04134)","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20250821a50"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Leagle — February 25, 2026 Order Granting Motions to Intervene (4:25-CV-04134-CCT)","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20260227a90"},{"credibility":2,"name":"The Dakota Scout — Feds probing South Dakota brokers for cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.thedakotascout.com/p/fbi-irs-probing-sioux-falls-hedge"}]},{"content":"Federal agents from the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted searches of Benaiah's Sioux Falls office and Benjamin Wiener's personal residence in June 2025. These raids prompted the collapse of the Benaiah entities in the final days of June 2025. The dual-agency investigation built toward the June 2026 grand jury indictment. The civil lawsuit filed by the Kinnetz Trust on July 18, 2025 — days after the raids — explicitly noted that the entities 'collapsed in the final days of June 2025 following raids' by the two agencies.","heading":"FBI and IRS Raids and Investigation","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Marshall Radio — Florida Trust Files Lawsuit Against Sioux Falls Crypto Fund","type":"news_article","url":"https://marshallradio.net/florida-trust-files-lawsuit-against-sioux-falls-crypto-fund/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"The Dakota Scout — Feds probing South Dakota brokers for cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.thedakotascout.com/p/fbi-irs-probing-sioux-falls-hedge"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Block Tribune — Trustee Alleges Deceptive Practices by Benaiah Entities in Multi-Million Dollar Crypto Investment","type":"news_article","url":"https://blocktribune.com/trustee-alleges-deceptive-practices-by-benaiah-entities-in-multi-million-dollar-crypto-investment/"}]},{"content":"The federal indictment describes 'dozens of victims' located primarily in South Dakota and Minnesota. The civil complaint filed by the Kinnetz Trust describes a Florida-based investor who placed $4 million with Benaiah entities beginning in late 2021, suggesting the investor base extended beyond the immediate Midwest region. The Dakota Scout's early reporting described Wiener and Hmielewski as 'former Marshall residents,' a reference to Marshall, Minnesota, consistent with the scheme's regional footprint. Victims received regular account statements for approximately one year before communication from the fund ceased in late 2024.","heading":"Victim Profile and Geographic Reach","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release — District of South Dakota","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Marshall Radio — Florida Trust Files Lawsuit Against Sioux Falls Crypto Fund","type":"news_article","url":"https://marshallradio.net/florida-trust-files-lawsuit-against-sioux-falls-crypto-fund/"}]},{"content":"Federal prosecutors and the civil court receiver allege that Wiener engaged in active concealment of assets. The civil court found an 'imminent danger' of asset concealment sufficient to expand the receiver's authority over more than a dozen related companies. The criminal indictment includes nineteen money laundering counts, alleging that funds were moved through various financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges specifically to conceal and disguise their location, source, ownership, and control. The receiver's mandate covers asset recovery across the full ecosystem of related entities.","heading":"Alleged Asset Concealment","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"The Dakota Scout — Fraud investigation into Sioux Falls hedge fund and its founder expands","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.thedakotascout.com/p/fraud-investigation-into-sioux-falls"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoSlate — Crypto investor charged with using 8 companies and new investor cash","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptoslate.com/crypto-investor-charged-with-using-8-companies-and-new-investor-cash-to-keep-an-alleged-20m-fraud-alive/"}]}],"sources_used":[],"summary":"Benjamin Paul Wiener, 43, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was indicted in June 2026 by a federal grand jury on 29 counts including wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors allege he raised approximately $25.1 million from dozens of investors through a cluster of eight entities — anchored by Benaiah Capital LLC and Benaiah Holdings, Inc. — while operating a classic Ponzi structure: using new investor funds to pay earlier investors and diverting an alleged $5.7 million to personal expenses. A parallel civil receivership proceeding, Kinnetz v. Benaiah Holdings (D.S.D. 4:25-cv-04134), was filed in July 2025 after the Benaiah entities collapsed following FBI and IRS raids. Wiener has pleaded not guilty and trial is scheduled for September 15, 2026.","timeline":[{"date":"2018-01-01","event":"Benaiah entities begin operating, allegedly soliciting investors in digital asset funds. Exact formation dates of individual entities vary; the indictment alleges fraud 'since at least 2018.'","source":"DOJ Press Release / Crypto Briefing","source_url":"https://cryptobriefing.com/wiener-indicted-20m-crypto-ponzi-fraud/"},{"date":"2021-01-01","event":"Timothy Kinnetz Revocable Trust (Florida) begins investing with Benaiah entities, ultimately committing $4 million.","source":"Marshall Radio","source_url":"https://marshallradio.net/florida-trust-files-lawsuit-against-sioux-falls-crypto-fund/"},{"date":"2024-12-01","event":"Benaiah entities cease communication with at least one investor. Regular account statements, previously provided for approximately one year, stop.","source":"Marshall Radio","source_url":"https://marshallradio.net/florida-trust-files-lawsuit-against-sioux-falls-crypto-fund/"},{"date":"2025-03-01","event":"Timothy Kinnetz accesses the fund's Kraken trading account and finds a balance of less than $600 — despite having committed $4 million in investments.","source":"Marshall Radio","source_url":"https://marshallradio.net/florida-trust-files-lawsuit-against-sioux-falls-crypto-fund/"},{"date":"2025-04-01","event":"Wiener allegedly obtains a $1,000,000 bank line of credit by submitting falsified documents and using another individual's personal identifying information without authorization.","source":"DOJ Press Release","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and"},{"date":"2025-06-01","event":"FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conduct raids on Benaiah's Sioux Falls office and Wiener's personal residence. The Benaiah entities collapse in the final days of June 2025.","source":"Marshall Radio / The Dakota Scout","source_url":"https://marshallradio.net/florida-trust-files-lawsuit-against-sioux-falls-crypto-fund/"},{"date":"2025-07-18","event":"Timothy Kinnetz, as trustee of the Timothy A. Kinnetz Revocable Trust, files civil lawsuit (Case No. 4:25-cv-04134-CCT) in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota against Benaiah Holdings, its affiliates, Wiener, Joshua DeWitt, and Christopher Hmielewski.","source":"Justia Docket","source_url":"https://dockets.justia.com/docket/south-dakota/sddce/4:2025cv04134/83832"},{"date":"2025-08-15","event":"U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler grants the Kinnetz Trust's expedited motion to appoint a receiver over the Benaiah entities, finding evidence of fraud and deceptive statements by Wiener. Court later expands receiver's authority to cover more than a dozen related companies citing imminent danger of asset concealment.","source":"Leagle / The Dakota Scout","source_url":"https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20250821a50"},{"date":"2026-02-25","event":"Court issues order granting motions by Keith McKinzie, Kyle McKinzie, and Kris McKinzie to intervene in the Kinnetz v. Benaiah Holdings civil proceeding.","source":"Leagle","source_url":"https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20260227a90"},{"date":"2026-05-20","event":"U.S. District Judge Theeler denies as moot several motions to dismiss and denies a motion to dismiss the First Amended Complaint, allowing the civil case to proceed.","source":"Justia / CaseMine","source_url":"https://dockets.justia.com/docket/south-dakota/sddce/4:2025cv04134/83832"},{"date":"2026-06-01","event":"Federal grand jury for the District of South Dakota returns a 29-count indictment against Benjamin Paul Wiener on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.","source":"DOJ Press Release","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and"},{"date":"2026-07-10","event":"Wiener appears before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy for arraignment, enters a not guilty plea, and is released on bond.","source":"DOJ Press Release / DRG News","source_url":"https://drgnews.com/2026/07/16/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-for-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and-aggravated-identity-theft/"},{"date":"2026-07-16","event":"DOJ press release announces indictment publicly. Multiple media outlets report on the 29-count indictment and approximately $20 million in alleged investor losses.","source":"DOJ / Multiple outlets","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and"},{"date":"2026-09-15","event":"Trial date set in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. Wiener remains presumed innocent.","source":"DOJ Press Release","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/sioux-falls-crypto-investor-indicted-wire-fraud-money-laundering-bank-fraud-and"}]},"v":1}

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