Audit log

Every state-changing event for USI-Tech: moderation decisions on community submissions, plus corrections and updates from the news pipeline. URL-based decisions carry three independent witnesses — the original source, an Internet Archive snapshot taken at submission time, and a Solana memo signed by our publicly-disclosed publisher key.

1. #1publishby system:backfill

   2026-05-31 19:53:45Z
   Score: ? → ? (no score change)
   anchoranchored

   chain

   ●mainnet-betaslot 423,441,655

   sig

   2J2vYJny9qGT…C7YzwktKcopyexplorer ↗

   hash

   GrNCmMSFPg2G…JCrEukrEcopysha256 → base58

   verifying row…full verify ↗

   canonical bytes (27826 B) ▸

   {"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"49d8a103-a7f7-4e96-9e86-366080b68e3a","kind":"publish","page_slug":"usi-tech","published_at":"2026-05-31T19:53:45.849Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"USI-Tech","sections":[{"content":"USI-Tech presented itself as an automated cryptocurrency and forex trading platform headquartered in Dubai (formally registered in Ras al-Khaimah, UAE). The company marketed 'BTC Packages' priced at approximately 50 euros each, promising buyers an average 1% daily payout over five trading days per week across a 140-day term — equating to an advertised gross return of 140%. A multilevel-marketing referral structure offered recruits commissions of 'up to 35%' for enrolling new participants. The company also launched a TechCoin ICO in October 2017, during which users transferred more than 11,500 BTC from their existing package earnings into the token presale. No verified, independent evidence of actual algorithmic trading or Bitcoin mining operations was ever produced. U.S. federal prosecutors and multiple securities regulators concluded that the scheme relied on new investor inflows to pay earlier participants, consistent with the structure of a Ponzi scheme.","heading":"Overview and Business Model","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"Bitcoin Promoter USI-Tech Hit With Emergency Order — Texas State Securities Board","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.ssb.texas.gov/news-publications/bitcoin-promoter-usi-tech-hit-emergency-order"},{"credibility":1,"name":"US: CEO of Bitcoin Platform Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme — OCCRP","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.occrp.org/en/news/us-ceo-of-bitcoin-platform-charged-in-multi-million-dollar-ponzi-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"How USI Tech Pulled off One of the Largest Crypto Scams — CoinCentral","type":"news_article","url":"https://coincentral.com/usi-tech-crypto-scam/"}]},{"content":"On December 20, 2017, Texas Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles issued an Emergency Cease and Desist Order against USI-Tech Limited and two U.S.-based sales agents — Clifford Thomas of Suitland, Maryland, and Michael Rivera of Los Angeles — on the grounds that neither USI-Tech nor its agents were registered to sell securities in Texas and that the BTC Packages constituted unregistered securities. The order also cited materially false claims: USI-Tech's website asserted its product was 'certified legal in the USA per the FTC,' a statement the FTC itself has no authority to make regarding securities registration. USI-Tech did not respond to the order within the required 10-day window, and the deadline to challenge expired without action from the company. In early 2018 multiple USI-Tech participants reported receiving document requests from the SEC, and a confirmed SEC investigation was later publicly acknowledged. A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York returned a sealed indictment against Horst Jicha on August 23, 2023, on charges of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Jicha was arrested on December 23, 2023 at Miami International Airport when he attempted to enter the United States for the first time in more than five years. He was arraigned in January 2024 and released on a $5 million bond under home detention conditions.","heading":"U.S. Regulatory Actions","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"Bitcoin Promoter USI-Tech Hit With Emergency Order — Texas State Securities Board","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.ssb.texas.gov/news-publications/bitcoin-promoter-usi-tech-hit-emergency-order"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Crypto entrepreneur charged with defrauding investors out of $150 million — CNBC","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/crypto-entrepreneur-charged-defrauding-investors-scam.html"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Founder of Crypto Firm USI Tech Charged With $150 Million Fraud — Bloomberg Law","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/crypto/founder-of-crypto-firm-usi-tech-charged-with-150-million-fraud"},{"credibility":1,"name":"US: CEO of Bitcoin Platform Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme — OCCRP","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.occrp.org/en/news/us-ceo-of-bitcoin-platform-charged-in-multi-million-dollar-ponzi-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Administrative Action Report Oct.–Dec. 2017 — Texas State Securities Board","type":"regulatory","url":"https://ssb.texas.gov/news-publications/administrative-action-report-oct-dec-2017"}]},{"content":"Canadian securities authorities issued multiple coordinated actions against USI-Tech across provinces throughout late 2017 and 2018. In December 2017 the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) added USI-Tech to its Investment Caution List, noting the company was not registered to trade in or advise on securities in the province. Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick authorities issued investor alerts simultaneously. The Government of New Brunswick issued a consumer alert on December 21, 2017. On January 26, 2018, the Government of Saskatchewan's Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority issued a Cease Trade Order against USI-Tech. On February 15, 2018, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) issued a temporary cease trade order naming USI-Tech Limited, and Ontario-based affiliates Eleanor Parker and Casey Combden, on grounds that they had traded without registration and distributed securities without a prospectus. Quebec's Tribunal administratif des marchés financiers (TMF) issued a similar order on March 16, 2018. Following inter-jurisdictional enforcement proceedings, the Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal on February 22, 2019 issued a permanent order prohibiting USI-Tech from trading in any securities or derivatives, mirroring the Quebec TMF sanctions under Ontario Securities Act section 127(10).","heading":"Canadian Regulatory Actions","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"USI-TECH Limited Investment Caution List — BCSC","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.bcsc.bc.ca/enforcement/early-intervention/investment-caution-list/2017/usitech-limited"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Do Not Invest with USI-TECH Limited — Government of Saskatchewan","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2018/january/26/cease-trade-order"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Bitcoin Multi-level Marketing Scheme — Ontario Securities Commission","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.osc.ca/en/news-events/news/bitcoin-multi-level-marketing-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Reasons and Decision: In the Matter of USI-Tech Limited — Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.capitalmarketstribunal.ca/en/proceedings/usi-tech-limited-re-0/reasons-and-decision-matter-usi-tech-limited"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Statement of Allegations: USI Tech Limited — Ontario Securities Commission","type":"regulatory","url":"https://osc.gov.on.ca/en/Proceedings_soa_20181204_usi-tech.htm"}]},{"content":"In early January 2018, USI-Tech users in the United States and Canada began reporting inability to process withdrawal requests. The company formally suspended affiliate withdrawals shortly thereafter. An estimated $18 million held in an Ethereum mining pool was also reported to have been drained. In early 2018, following regulatory cease-and-desist orders, USI-Tech shut down all U.S. and Canadian operations overnight, blocking investors from accessing their funds. Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York allege that Jicha caused approximately $150 million in Bitcoin and Ether — representing investor funds — to be transferred to cryptocurrency deposit addresses under his control after the platform ceased operations. The company's website subsequently went offline. By March 2018, BTC packages were no longer available for purchase or generating returns. Regulatory authorities and prosecutors have collectively described the total harm to global investors as approximately $150 million.","heading":"Collapse and Investor Losses","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"USI-Tech suspend withdrawals, $18 mill ETH mining pool cleaned out — BehindMLM","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/usi-tech/usi-tech-suspend-withdrawals-18-mill-eth-mining-pool-cleaned-out/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Crypto CEO Horst Jicha skips bond in fraud case — CNBC","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/11/horst-jicha-skips-bail-new-york-cryptocurrency-fraud-fugitive.html"},{"credibility":1,"name":"US: CEO of Bitcoin Platform Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme — OCCRP","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.occrp.org/en/news/us-ceo-of-bitcoin-platform-charged-in-multi-million-dollar-ponzi-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto CEO on the run after allegedly stealing 1,800 BTC and 28,000 ETH — Protos","type":"news_article","url":"https://protos.com/crypto-ceo-on-the-run-after-allegedly-stealing-1800-btc-and-28000-eth/"}]},{"content":"After being arraigned in January 2024 and released on a $5 million bond with home-detention conditions (restricted to New York City and Long Island), Horst Jicha allegedly tampered with his ankle monitor on October 3, 2024. A federal arrest warrant was issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on October 4, 2024, charging him with violating pretrial-release conditions. A manhunt was launched, and Jicha was subsequently added to the FBI's Most Wanted list. His whereabouts remained unknown as of the time of reporting. His scheduled trial date of March 2025 passed without his appearance.","heading":"Fugitive Status of Horst Jicha","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"Crypto CEO Horst Jicha skips bond in fraud case — CNBC","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/11/horst-jicha-skips-bail-new-york-cryptocurrency-fraud-fugitive.html"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Manhunt underway for accused crypto fraudster Jicha — NBC New York","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/horst-jicha-skips-bail-in-150-million-usi-tech-crypto-fraud-case-in-new-york/5879480/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"USI-Tech's Horst Jicha on FBI's most wanted list — BehindMLM","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/usi-tech/usi-techs-horst-jicha-on-fbis-most-wanted-list/"}]},{"content":"USI-Tech was co-founded by Horst Jicha, Joao Severino, Ralf Gold, and Mike Kiefer. Prior to USI-Tech, Joao Severino had allegedly been banned from all financial activity in Portugal following his involvement with AMC Invest, a separate scheme that reportedly promised 10% monthly returns and scammed hundreds of investors before authorities shut it down. Ralf Gold had prior associations with multiple allegedly fraudulent MLM programs including AdsProfitReward, HourlyRevShare, and MX Fast Money. Mike Kiefer was known in the German MLM industry and was previously associated with the MonaVie MLM scheme and the allegedly fraudulent ViziNova scheme. Horst Jicha had a background in technology management, including as managing director at Primion Technology AG. Gold fled to Brazil after USI-Tech's collapse; he was found dead on June 19, 2024, inside the Clube do Tiro shooting club in Cambota, Valenca, Rio de Janeiro. A search of his rented vehicle revealed multiple firearms; the cause of death was not made public.","heading":"Founders' Prior Histories","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"How USI Tech Pulled off One of the Largest Crypto Scams — CoinCentral","type":"news_article","url":"https://coincentral.com/usi-tech-crypto-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"USI-Tech's Ralf Gold found dead in Brazil — BehindMLM","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/usi-tech/usi-techs-ralf-gold-found-dead-in-brazil/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"USI TECH — Another Troubled Crypto-MLM in the Dubai Connection — FinTelegram","type":"news_article","url":"https://fintelegram.com/usi-tech-another-troubled-crypto-mlm-in-the-dubai-connection/"}]},{"content":"Beyond the United States and Canada, regulators in multiple jurisdictions issued formal warnings or took enforcement actions against USI-Tech. On April 9, 2018, Spain's Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) added USI-Tech to its list of unauthorized firms and entities. On August 16, 2018, New Zealand's Financial Markets Authority (FMA) issued a warning stating USI-Tech was not registered on the Financial Service Providers Register and that its operations 'bear the hallmarks of a scam.' Quebec's Tribunal administratif des marchés financiers issued a cease order on March 16, 2018. Guam's Attorney General advised caution regarding USI-Tech on January 12, 2018. The coordinated international regulatory response across at least seven jurisdictions underscores the global reach of the scheme.","heading":"International Regulatory Warnings","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"USI-Tech — Financial Markets Authority New Zealand","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/warnings-and-alerts/usi-tech/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Do Not Invest with USI-TECH Limited — Government of Saskatchewan","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2018/january/26/cease-trade-order"},{"credibility":2,"name":"New Zealand's FMA Blacklists Trading Software Provider USI-Tech — Finance Magnates","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.financemagnates.com/forex/regulation/new-zealands-fma-blacklists-trading-software-provider-usi-tech/"}]},{"content":"As of March 2019, USI-Tech's primary domain was redirected to Eyeline Trading, a new venture also presenting itself as a cryptocurrency and forex platform provider. Both USI-Tech and Eyeline Trading shared R&D Global as their listed parent entity. Dan Putnam, identified as CEO and founder of R&D Global, was active in promotional videos for Eyeline Trading. After the BCSC placed Eyeline Trading on its Investment Caution List, the venture rebranded again to WealthBoss in early 2019. WealthBoss subsequently collapsed as well. The successive rebranding pattern indicates a continuation of personnel and infrastructure from the original USI-Tech operation.","heading":"Successor Schemes: Eyeline Trading and WealthBoss","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"The bitcoin Ponzi scam that won't go away — Engadget","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.engadget.com/2019-05-23-bitcoin-ponzi-usi-tech-eyeling-trading-wealthboss.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Eyeline Trading collapses, to reboot as WealthBoss in March — BehindMLM","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/eyeline-trading-collapses-to-reboot-as-wealthboss-in-march/"}]},{"content":"The FBI established a dedicated victim information form for the USI-Tech fraud scheme, published on the FBI's official website. This reflects the bureau's acknowledgment of large-scale retail investor harm from the scheme and is consistent with victim-notification requirements in federal securities-fraud prosecutions.","heading":"FBI Victim Outreach","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"Seeking Victim Information in USI-Tech Fraud Scheme — FBI","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/seeking-victim-information/seeking-victim-information-in-usi-tech-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"FBI seeking USI-Tech victim information — BehindMLM","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/usi-tech/fbi-seeking-usi-tech-victim-information/"}]}],"sources_used":[{"credibility":1,"name":"Bitcoin Promoter USI-Tech Hit With Emergency Order — Texas State Securities Board","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.ssb.texas.gov/news-publications/bitcoin-promoter-usi-tech-hit-emergency-order"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Administrative Action Report Oct.–Dec. 2017 — Texas State Securities Board","type":"regulatory","url":"https://ssb.texas.gov/news-publications/administrative-action-report-oct-dec-2017"},{"credibility":1,"name":"US: CEO of Bitcoin Platform Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme — OCCRP","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.occrp.org/en/news/us-ceo-of-bitcoin-platform-charged-in-multi-million-dollar-ponzi-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Crypto entrepreneur charged with defrauding investors out of $150 million — CNBC","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/crypto-entrepreneur-charged-defrauding-investors-scam.html"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Founder of Crypto Firm USI Tech Charged With $150 Million Fraud — Bloomberg Law","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/crypto/founder-of-crypto-firm-usi-tech-charged-with-150-million-fraud"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Crypto CEO Horst Jicha skips bond in fraud case — CNBC","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/11/horst-jicha-skips-bail-new-york-cryptocurrency-fraud-fugitive.html"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Manhunt underway for accused crypto fraudster Jicha — NBC New York","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/horst-jicha-skips-bail-in-150-million-usi-tech-crypto-fraud-case-in-new-york/5879480/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Reasons and Decision: In the Matter of USI-Tech Limited — Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.capitalmarketstribunal.ca/en/proceedings/usi-tech-limited-re-0/reasons-and-decision-matter-usi-tech-limited"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Statement of Allegations: USI Tech Limited — Ontario Securities Commission","type":"regulatory","url":"https://osc.gov.on.ca/en/Proceedings_soa_20181204_usi-tech.htm"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Bitcoin Multi-level Marketing Scheme — Ontario Securities Commission","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.osc.ca/en/news-events/news/bitcoin-multi-level-marketing-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Do Not Invest with USI-TECH Limited — Government of Saskatchewan","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2018/january/26/cease-trade-order"},{"credibility":1,"name":"USI-TECH Limited Investment Caution List — BCSC","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.bcsc.bc.ca/enforcement/early-intervention/investment-caution-list/2017/usitech-limited"},{"credibility":1,"name":"USI-Tech — Financial Markets Authority New Zealand","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/warnings-and-alerts/usi-tech/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Seeking Victim Information in USI-Tech Fraud Scheme — FBI","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/seeking-victim-information/seeking-victim-information-in-usi-tech-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"German National Arrested in Miami for Orchestrating $150 Million Crypto Investment Scheme — TRM Labs","type":"research","url":"https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/german-national-arrested-in-miami-for-orchestrating-150-million-crypto-investment-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"How USI Tech Pulled off One of the Largest Crypto Scams — CoinCentral","type":"news_article","url":"https://coincentral.com/usi-tech-crypto-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"USI Tech — Wikipedia","type":"other","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USI_Tech"},{"credibility":2,"name":"USI-Tech's Ralf Gold found dead in Brazil — BehindMLM","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/usi-tech/usi-techs-ralf-gold-found-dead-in-brazil/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"USI TECH — Another Troubled Crypto-MLM in the Dubai Connection — FinTelegram","type":"news_article","url":"https://fintelegram.com/usi-tech-another-troubled-crypto-mlm-in-the-dubai-connection/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"The bitcoin Ponzi scam that won't go away — Engadget","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.engadget.com/2019-05-23-bitcoin-ponzi-usi-tech-eyeling-trading-wealthboss.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"OSC cease trades USI-Tech — Investment Executive","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.investmentexecutive.com/news/from-the-regulators/osc-cease-trades-usi-tech/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto CEO on the run after allegedly stealing 1,800 BTC and 28,000 ETH — Protos","type":"news_article","url":"https://protos.com/crypto-ceo-on-the-run-after-allegedly-stealing-1800-btc-and-28000-eth/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"USI-Tech's Horst Jicha on FBI's most wanted list — BehindMLM","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/usi-tech/usi-techs-horst-jicha-on-fbis-most-wanted-list/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Texas Slaps Bitcoin Investment Firm With Cease-and-Desist — CoinDesk","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.coindesk.com/texas-slaps-bitcoin-investment-firm-cease-desist/"}],"summary":"USI-Tech (United Software Intelligence Technology) was a Dubai-registered cryptocurrency and forex multilevel-marketing scheme that operated from approximately 2016 through early 2018, selling so-called 'BTC Packages' and promising investors an average daily return of 1% over 140 days. Regulators across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Spain issued cease-and-desist or warning orders in 2017–2018; an estimated $150 million in investor funds — predominantly in Bitcoin and Ether — was allegedly misappropriated before the platform went offline overnight. Co-founder and CEO Horst Jicha was indicted in the U.S. Eastern District of New York in August 2023, arrested in December 2023, and became a fugitive in October 2024 after allegedly tampering with his ankle monitor and absconding in violation of pretrial-release conditions.","timeline":[{"date":"2016-01-01","event":"USI-Tech founded as a forex auto-trading MLM by Horst Jicha, Joao Severino, Ralf Gold, and Mike Kiefer.","source":"BehindMLM / CoinCentral","source_url":"https://coincentral.com/usi-tech-crypto-scam/"},{"date":"2017-05-01","event":"USI-Tech pivots from forex to Bitcoin, launching the BTC Package product promising 140% return over 140 days.","source":"CoinCentral","source_url":"https://coincentral.com/usi-tech-crypto-scam/"},{"date":"2017-10-01","event":"USI-Tech launches TechCoin ICO; users transfer more than 11,500 BTC into the token presale.","source":"CoinCentral","source_url":"https://coincentral.com/usi-tech-crypto-scam/"},{"date":"2017-12-20","event":"Texas State Securities Board issues Emergency Cease and Desist Order against USI-Tech, Clifford Thomas, and Michael Rivera for unregistered securities sales.","source":"Texas State Securities Board","source_url":"https://www.ssb.texas.gov/news-publications/bitcoin-promoter-usi-tech-hit-emergency-order"},{"date":"2017-12-21","event":"Government of New Brunswick issues consumer alert against USI-Tech.","source":"BehindMLM","source_url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/usi-tech/usi-tech-investor-warning-issued-in-bc-canada/"},{"date":"2017-12-01","event":"British Columbia Securities Commission adds USI-Tech to its Investment Caution List; similar alerts issued by Nova Scotia and Manitoba.","source":"BCSC","source_url":"https://www.bcsc.bc.ca/enforcement/early-intervention/investment-caution-list/2017/usitech-limited"},{"date":"2018-01-01","event":"USI-Tech halts BTC payouts to U.S. and Canadian investors; withdrawal requests go unprocessed.","source":"CoinCentral / BehindMLM","source_url":"https://coincentral.com/usi-tech-crypto-scam/"},{"date":"2018-01-12","event":"Guam Attorney General issues caution notice regarding USI-Tech.","source":"Wikipedia / USI Tech","source_url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USI_Tech"},{"date":"2018-01-26","event":"Government of Saskatchewan issues Cease Trade Order against USI-Tech.","source":"Government of Saskatchewan","source_url":"https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2018/january/26/cease-trade-order"},{"date":"2018-02-15","event":"Ontario Securities Commission issues temporary cease trade order against USI-Tech, Eleanor Parker, and Casey Combden.","source":"Ontario Securities Commission","source_url":"https://www.osc.ca/en/news-events/news/bitcoin-multi-level-marketing-scheme"},{"date":"2018-03-01","event":"USI-Tech BTC packages no longer available for purchase or generating returns; SEC begins requesting documents from participants, confirming an active investigation.","source":"BehindMLM / CoinCentral","source_url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/usi-tech/usi-tech-ponzi-abandons-us-canada-confirms-sec-investigation/"},{"date":"2018-03-16","event":"Quebec's Tribunal administratif des marchés financiers issues cease order against USI-Tech.","source":"Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal Decision","source_url":"https://www.capitalmarketstribunal.ca/en/proceedings/usi-tech-limited-re-0/reasons-and-decision-matter-usi-tech-limited"},{"date":"2018-04-09","event":"Spain's CNMV adds USI-Tech to its list of unauthorized firms.","source":"Wikipedia / USI Tech","source_url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USI_Tech"},{"date":"2018-08-16","event":"New Zealand Financial Markets Authority issues warning against USI-Tech, stating the entity 'bears the hallmarks of a scam.'","source":"FMA New Zealand","source_url":"https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/warnings-and-alerts/usi-tech/"},{"date":"2019-02-22","event":"Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal issues permanent order prohibiting USI-Tech from trading in any securities or derivatives.","source":"Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal","source_url":"https://www.capitalmarketstribunal.ca/en/proceedings/usi-tech-limited-re-0/reasons-and-decision-matter-usi-tech-limited"},{"date":"2019-03-01","event":"USI-Tech domain redirected to Eyeline Trading, a successor scheme also linked to R&D Global.","source":"Engadget","source_url":"https://www.engadget.com/2019-05-23-bitcoin-ponzi-usi-tech-eyeling-trading-wealthboss.html"},{"date":"2023-08-23","event":"Federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York returns sealed indictment against Horst Jicha on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.","source":"CNBC / Bloomberg Law","source_url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/19/crypto-entrepreneur-charged-defrauding-investors-scam.html"},{"date":"2023-12-23","event":"Horst Jicha arrested at Miami International Airport upon entering the United States for the first time in more than five years.","source":"OCCRP","source_url":"https://www.occrp.org/en/news/us-ceo-of-bitcoin-platform-charged-in-multi-million-dollar-ponzi-scheme"},{"date":"2024-01-01","event":"Jicha arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn, released on $5 million bond with home-detention conditions.","source":"CNBC / Bloomberg Law","source_url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/crypto/founder-of-crypto-firm-usi-tech-charged-with-150-million-fraud"},{"date":"2024-06-19","event":"USI-Tech co-founder Ralf Gold found dead at the Clube do Tiro shooting club in Cambota, Valenca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, age 59. Cause of death not made public.","source":"BehindMLM","source_url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/usi-tech/usi-techs-ralf-gold-found-dead-in-brazil/"},{"date":"2024-10-03","event":"Horst Jicha allegedly tampers with his ankle monitor; becomes a fugitive.","source":"CNBC","source_url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/11/horst-jicha-skips-bail-new-york-cryptocurrency-fraud-fugitive.html"},{"date":"2024-10-04","event":"U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, issues federal arrest warrant for Jicha for violating pretrial release conditions. Jicha subsequently added to FBI Most Wanted list.","source":"NBC New York / BehindMLM","source_url":"https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/horst-jicha-skips-bail-in-150-million-usi-tech-crypto-fraud-case-in-new-york/5879480/"}]},"v":1}

   Verify offline (run on your own machine)

   python -m src.verify_decision 2b38633b-1296-41a6-aeac-9ea74931df9ecopy
2. #2reviewby reviewerreviewer

   2026-06-01 03:22:02Z
   Score: 2 → 2 (no score change)
   The USI-Tech investigation page is substantially accurate and well-sourced. Core claims about the fraud structure, regulatory actions across seven-plus jurisdictions, indictment, arrest, and fugitive status of Horst Jicha are confirmed by primary regulatory and DOJ sources. The main imprecisions are: (1) the '$150 million' figure is the 2023 market-value equivalent of stolen crypto, not its 2018 theft value; (2) Mike Kiefer's status as a 'co-founder' is contested across sources, with some authoritative sources describing him as a senior promoter rather than a founding principal; (3) the 'FBI Most Wanted list' language, while technically supported by the FBI white-collar crime wanted list, could be confused with the more famous 'Ten Most Wanted' list. No claims were found to be outright false or disputed by credible current sources. Two claims (Nova Scotia/Manitoba simultaneous alerts; New Brunswick December 21 date) could not be verified from accessible primary sources. Trust score calibration as a known Ponzi with extensive multi-jurisdictional regulatory condemnation and a federal indictment is appropriate at very low levels.
   anchoranchored

   chain

   ●mainnet-betaslot 423,509,422

   sig

   4ibrXehG5b9w…PnzqGGfYcopyexplorer ↗

   hash

   D9So8JND7W2J…oVdgDgjGcopysha256 → base58

   verifying row…full verify ↗

   canonical bytes (1487 B) ▸

   {"actor":"reviewer","decided_at":"2026-06-01T03:22:02.468Z","decision":"review","investigation_id":"49d8a103-a7f7-4e96-9e86-366080b68e3a","new_score":2,"page_slug":"usi-tech","prev_score":2,"reason":"The USI-Tech investigation page is substantially accurate and well-sourced. Core claims about the fraud structure, regulatory actions across seven-plus jurisdictions, indictment, arrest, and fugitive status of Horst Jicha are confirmed by primary regulatory and DOJ sources. The main imprecisions are: (1) the '$150 million' figure is the 2023 market-value equivalent of stolen crypto, not its 2018 theft value; (2) Mike Kiefer's status as a 'co-founder' is contested across sources, with some authoritative sources describing him as a senior promoter rather than a founding principal; (3) the 'FBI Most Wanted list' language, while technically supported by the FBI white-collar crime wanted list, could be confused with the more famous 'Ten Most Wanted' list. No claims were found to be outright false or disputed by credible current sources. Two claims (Nova Scotia/Manitoba simultaneous alerts; New Brunswick December 21 date) could not be verified from accessible primary sources. Trust score calibration as a known Ponzi with extensive multi-jurisdictional regulatory condemnation and a federal indictment is appropriate at very low levels.","score_delta":0,"sequence_num":2,"submission_content_hash":null,"submission_id":null,"submission_kind":null,"submission_valence":null,"v":1}

   Verify offline (run on your own machine)

   python -m src.verify_decision 6b37fe0e-0122-46b8-b231-057d4465461ecopy
3. #3review approveby judgejudge

   2026-06-01 03:22:02Z
   Score: 2 → 2 (no score change)
   The reviewer examined 36 discrete claims and found zero disputed. All core allegations — the Ponzi structure, BTC Package terms, multi-jurisdictional regulatory actions, the August 2023 EDNY indictment, December 2023 Miami airport arrest, and October 2024 fugitive status — are confirmed by Tier 1 primary sources including the DOJ, Texas SSB, Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal, Saskatchewan government, FBI, and major wire services (CNBC, Bloomberg Law, NBC New York). Eight claims are rated 'partially supported,' but these reflect precision imprecisions rather than factual errors: the $150 million figure is the 2023 market-value equivalent of stolen crypto (claim_findings[3]), the Dubai vs. Ras al-Khaimah registration distinction is flagged but correctly noted in the page body (claim_findings[0]), and Mike Kiefer's co-founder vs. senior-promoter characterization is contested across sources without a definitive primary-source refutation (claim_findings[28]). Two claims are unverifiable (Nova Scotia/Manitoba simultaneous alerts and the New Brunswick December 21 date) but these are minor corroborating details, not load-bearing allegations. Coverage gaps — including on-chain address tracing, Joao Severino's legal status, and victim restitution proceedings — are material suggestions for future expansion but do not undermine the accuracy of published content.
   anchoranchored

   chain

   ●mainnet-betaslot 423,509,427

   sig

   5eteJqa7NCYk…QXMXfZYscopyexplorer ↗

   hash

   CdxZsdcZVJdF…vff4k99kcopysha256 → base58

   verifying row…full verify ↗

   canonical bytes (1718 B) ▸

   {"actor":"judge","decided_at":"2026-06-01T03:22:02.468Z","decision":"review_approve","investigation_id":"49d8a103-a7f7-4e96-9e86-366080b68e3a","new_score":2,"page_slug":"usi-tech","prev_score":2,"reason":"The reviewer examined 36 discrete claims and found zero disputed. All core allegations — the Ponzi structure, BTC Package terms, multi-jurisdictional regulatory actions, the August 2023 EDNY indictment, December 2023 Miami airport arrest, and October 2024 fugitive status — are confirmed by Tier 1 primary sources including the DOJ, Texas SSB, Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal, Saskatchewan government, FBI, and major wire services (CNBC, Bloomberg Law, NBC New York). Eight claims are rated 'partially supported,' but these reflect precision imprecisions rather than factual errors: the $150 million figure is the 2023 market-value equivalent of stolen crypto (claim_findings[3]), the Dubai vs. Ras al-Khaimah registration distinction is flagged but correctly noted in the page body (claim_findings[0]), and Mike Kiefer's co-founder vs. senior-promoter characterization is contested across sources without a definitive primary-source refutation (claim_findings[28]). Two claims are unverifiable (Nova Scotia/Manitoba simultaneous alerts and the New Brunswick December 21 date) but these are minor corroborating details, not load-bearing allegations. Coverage gaps — including on-chain address tracing, Joao Severino's legal status, and victim restitution proceedings — are material suggestions for future expansion but do not undermine the accuracy of published content.","score_delta":0,"sequence_num":3,"submission_content_hash":null,"submission_id":null,"submission_kind":null,"submission_valence":null,"v":1}

   Verify offline (run on your own machine)

   python -m src.verify_decision 1abb4338-e2c6-4de7-add3-78a08c726a5ccopy