Blazar Token / John A. DeSalvo
Summary
Blazar Token was a fraudulent cryptocurrency created by former New Jersey State Corrections Lieutenant John A. DeSalvo, who marketed it to law enforcement personnel and first responders as a 'crypto pension' supplement beginning in November 2021. DeSalvo raised at least $623,888 from approximately 222 investors through materially false representations, then misappropriated the funds and executed a rug-pull in May 2022 by selling over 41 billion of his own tokens, collapsing the price. He pleaded guilty to federal securities fraud charges in March 2024, and the SEC reached a civil settlement in August 2026 ordering disgorgement of $681,105.
Connected Entities
1 entities · 10 linked investigationsTimeline(8 events)
2021-01-01
DeSalvo begins operating 'Brokerage-1 Investment Group,' raising approximately $95,000-$100,000 from roughly 17-20 investors through false claims of extraordinary trading returns.
DOJ USAO-NJ / Breaking AC2021-05-01
Brokerage-1 Investment Group scheme ends; DeSalvo has lost approximately $17,000 through speculation and misappropriated remaining investor funds for personal use.
Breaking AC2021-11-01
DeSalvo launches Blazar Token, marketing it to law enforcement and first responders as a 'crypto pension.' Sells 'placeholder tokens' before the actual token exists.
Philadelphia Inquirer2022-05-01
DeSalvo sells over 41 billion of his own Blazar tokens on PancakeSwap, causing the token price to collapse. Most investors lose their entire investment. The token never recovers.
DOJ USAO-NJ2023-08-23
SEC files civil complaint against DeSalvo in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleging fraudulent unregistered offering of Blazar Token and misappropriation of investor funds. Federal prosecutors simultaneously announce criminal charges: two counts each of wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering. SEC Litigation Release No. LR-25814 issued.
SEC Press Release 2023-157 / DOJ USAO-NJ2024-03-25
DeSalvo pleads guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to two counts of securities fraud under a two-count Information (criminal case No. 24-cr-200-BRM). Sentencing scheduled for August 6, 2024.
DOJ USAO-NJ / Breaking AC2024-08-06
Sentencing hearing scheduled before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti for the criminal securities fraud case. DeSalvo faced a maximum of 20 years in prison per count. Specific sentence imposed has not been publicly reported in available sources.
Multiple news outlets (March 2024 pre-sentencing reporting)2026-08-04
SEC files consent and proposed final judgment in the civil action, settling the case. DeSalvo ordered to disgorge $681,105 (to be satisfied by criminal restitution order) and permanently enjoined from securities offerings and from violating Securities Act Sections 5(a), 5(c), 17(a) and Exchange Act Section 10(b)/Rule 10b-5.
FX News Group / SEC Litigation Release lr-25814Decision Log
- #1publish⛓ pending8/9/2026, 11:08:59 PMhash: 8qJXNBy1KoCymoNpXpem55yrwJQrzrRWL88qiRSPh64z
9 of 12 cited source URLs have an Internet Archive snapshot.
model: claude-sonnet-4-6
generated: 8/9/2026, 11:08:52 PM
last updated: 8/9/2026, 11:11:08 PM
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