Fact-check findings

The reviewer could not reconcile the claim with the evidence it cited. This is a lead, not a ruling that the claim is false.

1. #12[disputed][awaiting moderator]in the timeline

   “2022-05-08”

   reviewerDOJ unseals criminal indictment against Capuci on 2022-05-08The timeline entry's date of 2022-05-08 conflates the Decrypt article's publish date with the actual date the DOJ announced/unsealed the indictment, which multiple tier-1 sources place on May 6, 2022 -- the same day as the SEC's public charge announcement (see timeline entry for 2022-05-06).
   Proposed correction (not yet applied)

   2022-05-06
   citeddecrypt.co/99764/department-of-justice-i…62m-fraud-scheme

The claim was accurate when written but events since have overtaken it.

1. #13[stale][awaiting moderator]in section: Flight to Brazil and Brazilian Law Enforcement Action

   “Emerson Pires was reported arrested at a rental property in Florianopolis. The status of Capuci's arrest was unconfirmed at the time of initial reporting.”

   reviewerBoth Capuci and Pires were arrested by Brazilian Federal Police in Operation Yang on September 13, 2023This is the source of an internal inconsistency: the page's own summary flatly states both co-founders 'were arrested,' while this section still carries the initial-reporting hedge that Capuci's arrest status was unconfirmed. Later reporting resolves the ambiguity in favor of the summary's version.
   Proposed correction (not yet applied)

   Emerson Pires and Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. were both arrested by Brazilian Federal Police as part of the operation, with Pires taken into custody at a rental property in Florianopolis.
   citedbehindmlm.com/companies/empiresx/mining-…zures-in-brazil/

The cited evidence supports the claim as written.

1. #1[confirmed][no action needed]in the summary

   “MCC International Corp. (doing business as Mining Capital Coin), CPTLCoin Corp., and Bitchain Exchanges were collectively operated as a multi-level marketing cryptocurrency fraud scheme that defrauded 65,535 investors worldwide of an alleged $62 million between at least January 2018 and 2022.”

   reviewerMCC/CPTLCoin/Bitchain defrauded 65,535 investors worldwide of approximately $62 million between at least January 2018 and 2022Investor count and fraud total match the SEC press release and DOJ indictment coverage exactly.
   citedwww.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81
2. #2[confirmed][no action needed]in the summary

   “The SEC filed charges in April 2022 and secured a combined $46 million default judgment in August 2025”

   reviewerThe SEC filed charges in April 2022 and secured a combined $46 million default judgment in August 2025Both the April 2022 filing/TRO and the August 2025 $46 million default judgment are corroborated by multiple tier-1 sources.
   citedwww.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81www.mofo.com/resources/insights/250929-t…-for-august-2025
3. #3[confirmed][no action needed]in the summary

   “co-founders Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. and Emerson Sousa Pires fled to Brazil and were arrested there by Brazilian Federal Police in September 2023 under a separate domestic money-laundering investigation”

   reviewerCo-founders Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. and Emerson Sousa Pires fled to Brazil and were arrested there by Brazilian Federal Police in September 2023This summary statement (both men arrested) is corroborated by later reporting, but it is inconsistent with the page's own section 8 body text, which hedges that Capuci's arrest was 'unconfirmed.' See the linked finding on section 8.
   citedbehindmlm.com/companies/empiresx/mining-…zures-in-brazil/
4. #4[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Overview and Corporate Structure

   “Capuci also controlled two additional entities that functioned as integral components of the scheme: CPTLCoin Corp., the issuer of the proprietary Capital Coin (CPTL) token, and Bitchain Exchanges, a purported cryptocurrency trading platform.”

   reviewerMCC International Corp. was incorporated and based in Florida, co-founded by Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. and Emerson Sousa Pires; Capuci also controlled CPTLCoin Corp. and Bitchain ExchangesCorporate structure matches the SEC complaint's framing exactly.
   citedwww.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81
5. #5[confirmed][no action needed]in section: The Mining Package Scheme

   “The SEC alleges that defendants netted at least $8.1 million from mining package sales and $3.2 million in initiation fees from investors.”

   reviewerDefendants netted at least $8.1 million from mining package sales and $3.2 million in initiation feesDollar figures match the cited SEC press release exactly.
   citedwww.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81
6. #6[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Capital Coin Token and Bitchain Exchange: The Exit Trap

   “Defendants later required investors to withdraw holdings exclusively in Capital Coin (CPTL), a proprietary token issued by CPTLCoin Corp. and marketed as 'stabilized by revenue from the biggest cryptocurrency mining operation in the world.'”

   reviewerCapital Coin (CPTL) was marketed as 'stabilized by revenue from the biggest cryptocurrency mining operation in the world'Direct quote confirmed verbatim in DOJ materials.
   citedwww.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81
7. #7[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Multi-Level Marketing Structure

   “Capuci allegedly recruited a network of promoters and affiliates to sell mining packages, incentivizing recruitment through tangible luxury rewards including Apple Watches, iPads, Lamborghinis, Porsches, and Capuci's personal Ferrari.”

   reviewerCapuci incentivized recruitment with luxury rewards including Apple Watches, iPads, Lamborghinis, Porsches, and his personal FerrariAll five named reward items are corroborated by DOJ-sourced press coverage.
   citedwww.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/us-v-luis-capuciprotos.com/crypto-mining-boss-faces-45-y…-pyramid-scheme/
8. #8[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Use of Investor Funds

   “Approximately $11 million was allegedly diverted to Capuci's personal accounts.”

   reviewerApproximately $11 million was allegedly diverted to Capuci's personal accountsFigure matches DOJ-sourced reporting closely.
   citedprotos.com/crypto-mining-boss-faces-45-y…-pyramid-scheme/
9. #9[confirmed][no action needed]in section: SEC Civil Enforcement Action

   “On April 21, 2022, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Case No. 2:22-cv-14129) issued a temporary restraining order against all defendants and froze their assets following an SEC complaint filed that same month.”

   reviewerOn April 21, 2022, the Southern District of Florida (Case No. 2:22-cv-14129) issued a TRO and froze defendants' assetsDate, case number, and TRO details confirmed by the SEC press release.
   citedwww.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81www.courtlistener.com/docket/63292018/un…nal-corp/?page=2
10. #10[confirmed][no action needed]in section: SEC Civil Enforcement Action

    “On August 26, 2025, the court entered a combined $46 million default judgment against MCC International Corp., CPTLCoin Corp., Bitchain Exchanges, Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr., and Emerson Sousa Pires. The judgment encompassed approximately $28.5 million in disgorgement and approximately $7.8 million in prejudgment interest, with additional civil penalties comprising the remainder.”

    reviewerA magistrate judge recommended disgorgement of approximately $28 million; on August 26, 2025 the court entered a combined $46 million default judgment, comprising ~$28.5 million disgorgement and ~$7.8 million prejudgment interest, plus civil penaltiesBreakdown matches cited source; the specific dollar amount of civil penalties is not separately confirmed but is a reasonable arithmetic inference consistent with independent reporting that the total includes penalties.
    citedwww.mofo.com/resources/insights/250929-t…-for-august-2025news.bloomberglaw.com/securities-law/cry…-magistrate-says
11. #11[confirmed][no action needed]in section: DOJ Criminal Indictment

    “In May 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a criminal indictment against Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. under Case No. 22-20173-CR-Altonaga before Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga in the Southern District of Florida. Capuci was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and conspiracy to engage in international money laundering. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of 45 years imprisonment.”

    reviewerDOJ unsealed a criminal indictment against Capuci in May 2022 under Case No. 22-20173-CR-Altonaga before Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga, charging conspiracy to commit wire fraud, securities fraud, and international money laundering, with a maximum of 45 yearsCase number, judge, charges, and maximum sentence all confirmed. Note the indictment itself was returned/filed April 28, 2022 but unsealed and publicly announced May 6, 2022 -- the page's vague 'In May 2022' phrasing here is accurate, but see the related timeline-date finding, which is more specific and wrong.
    citedwww.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/us-v-luis-capucidecrypt.co/99764/department-of-justice-i…62m-fraud-scheme
12. #14[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Flight to Brazil and Brazilian Law Enforcement Action

    “On September 13, 2023, Brazil's Federal Police launched Operation Yang, mobilizing over 100 officers across 8 states (including DF, GO, SC, MS, PR, RS, SP, and ES), executing 25 search and seizure warrants, and issuing 2 arrest warrants.”

    reviewerBrazil's Federal Police launched Operation Yang on September 13, 2023, mobilizing over 100 officers across 8 states (DF, GO, SC, MS, PR, RS, SP, ES), executing 25 search and seizure warrants and issuing 2 arrest warrantsOperational details (officer count, warrant counts, state list) are corroborated by an independent Portuguese-language source, though the specific operation name 'Operation Yang' itself could only be confirmed via the cited BehindMLM source.
    citedbehindmlm.com/companies/empiresx/mining-…zures-in-brazil/
13. #15[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Flight to Brazil and Brazilian Law Enforcement Action

    “Brazilian authorities opened their own independent criminal investigation in August 2022 into allegations of money laundering involving sums up to R$300 million, encompassing alleged financial crimes committed in South Korea, the United States, Brazil, and other countries.”

    reviewerBrazilian authorities opened an independent criminal investigation in August 2022 into money laundering of up to R$300 million spanning South Korea, the US, Brazil and other countriesMatches independent reporting closely.
    citedbehindmlm.com/companies/empiresx/mining-…zures-in-brazil/
14. #16[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Unregistered Securities Offerings

    “The SEC's complaint alleges that MCC's mining packages constituted unregistered securities offerings in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933.”

    reviewerThe SEC's complaint alleges MCC's mining packages were unregistered securities offerings meeting the Howey testStandard, well-corroborated characterization of the SEC's registration-violation theory.
    citedwww.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81
15. #17[confirmed][no action needed]in section: DOJ Criminal Indictment

    “As of the DOJ case page last updated October 2024, no plea or final verdict information was publicly available, with the page noting defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

    reviewerAs of the DOJ case page last updated October 2024, no plea or final verdict information was publicly availableThe DOJ page's own last-updated date and content match the page's description exactly; independent searching found no more recent US criminal-case developments to supersede this.
    citedwww.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/us-v-luis-capuci