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{"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"1b992ff3-04b1-448b-91c1-724a2c6c973e","kind":"publish","page_slug":"daniel-chartraw-crypto-pal","published_at":"2026-06-25T12:13:24.664Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"Daniel Chartraw / Crypto-Pal","sections":[{"content":"A federal jury in the Eastern District of California returned a guilty verdict against Daniel Chartraw on June 18, 2026, following an eight-day trial. Chartraw was convicted on multiple counts related to cryptocurrency and investment fraud involving his companies Crypto-Pal LLC and TDA Global LLC. Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb is scheduled to sentence Chartraw on September 28, 2026. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.","heading":"Federal Conviction — June 2026","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: Jury Finds Former South Lake Tahoe Man Guilty of Multiple Cryptocurrency and Investment Fraud Schemes","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"},{"credibility":2,"name":"South Tahoe Now: Former South Lake Tahoe man found guilty of multiple schemes","type":"news_article","url":"https://southtahoenow.com/06/19/2026/former-south-lake-tahoe-man-found-guilty-of-multiple-schemes-that-defrauded-investors-of-nearly-1-million"}]},{"content":"Between March 2021 and February 2022, Chartraw and an associate operated Crypto-Pal LLC, which was presented to investors as a web-based cryptocurrency trading company that guaranteed high returns with no risk. In reality, no actual trading occurred with investor funds. Chartraw communicated with investors through phone calls, text messages, email, and virtual platforms including Microsoft Teams and Zoom. He provided victims with fabricated account statements showing false growth and used these statements to solicit additional investments. Investors transferred cryptocurrency or cash based on promises their funds would be actively traded on their behalf. None of the funds were ever invested as represented, and victims received neither promised returns nor the return of their principal.","heading":"Crypto-Pal LLC — Fraudulent Trading Platform","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: Jury Finds Former South Lake Tahoe Man Guilty","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Bitcoin.com News: Crypto-Pal Fraud Verdict Exposes Fake No-Risk Returns","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bitcoin.com/crypto-pal-fraud-verdict-exposes-fake-no-risk-returns-that-cost-investors-nearly-1m/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"FinanceFeeds: Crypto Fraud Verdict — Daniel Chartraw Convicted","type":"news_article","url":"https://financefeeds.com/crypto-fraud-verdict-daniel-chartraw-convicted-in-nearly-1-million-investor-scam/"}]},{"content":"Chartraw also operated TDA Global LLC alongside Crypto-Pal. He made inconsistent and contradictory representations about TDA Global to different investors: at various points he claimed TDA Global was engaged in supplying jet fuel to airlines, and at other times described it as operating its own cryptocurrency trading platform. Prosecutors established that TDA Global was used as part of the broader scheme to solicit investor funds, and that no legitimate business activity was conducted through this entity during the charged period.","heading":"TDA Global LLC — Parallel Sham Venture","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"South Tahoe Now: Former South Lake Tahoe man found guilty","type":"news_article","url":"https://southtahoenow.com/06/19/2026/former-south-lake-tahoe-man-found-guilty-of-multiple-schemes-that-defrauded-investors-of-nearly-1-million"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Bloomberg Law: California Man Indicted for Wire Fraud in Crypto Trading Scam","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/california-man-indicted-for-wire-fraud-in-crypto-trading-scam"}]},{"content":"Throughout the operation of Crypto-Pal and TDA Global, Chartraw directed the scheme while frequently using the aliases 'Leonard' and 'Leon.' He told associates that he needed to conceal his true identity because of a prior federal fraud conviction. Despite this precaution, many investors ultimately discovered that Chartraw — not 'Leonard' — was the person controlling the businesses and their accounts. Chartraw was also not listed as a signatory on the Crypto-Pal business bank account, yet he repeatedly accessed it to withdraw cash, make personal purchases, and transfer investor funds into accounts he personally controlled.","heading":"Use of Aliases and Identity Concealment","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: Jury Finds Former South Lake Tahoe Man Guilty","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Lodi News: Former Lodi business owner found guilty of fraud","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_7b71d4c0-c8a3-472b-a68f-8d820d3b742f.html"}]},{"content":"Chartraw has a documented prior federal fraud history. He was charged in 2012 with 18 counts of wire fraud for schemes conducted between 2007 and 2011 in which he made false statements and promises to victims to obtain money in the form of loans, investments, and commodity purchases. One component involved selling fraudulent 'dore' bars — ingots he falsely claimed contained precious metals. Chartraw also allegedly made false claims about owning mines, minerals, and a $100 million certificate of deposit. Investor losses from that scheme were estimated between $2.6 million and $3.6 million. Chartraw became a fugitive in 2011 while out on bond, was arrested in Mexico, deported, and subsequently arrested by the FBI. He pleaded guilty in 2013 and was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison plus $2.8 million in restitution. This prior conviction is the same one he instructed associates to conceal when operating Crypto-Pal.","heading":"Prior Federal Fraud Conviction — 2013","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"FBI Sacramento: Daniel Chartraw Sentenced in Multi-Million-Dollar Investment Fraud Scheme (2013)","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fbi.gov/sacramento/press-releases/2013/daniel-chartraw-sentenced-in-multi-million-dollar-investment-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"FBI Sacramento: Former El Dorado Hills Man Charged with Fraud (2012)","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fbi.gov/sacramento/press-releases/2012/former-el-dorado-hills-man-charged-with-fraud"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Lodi News: Former Lodi business owner found guilty of fraud","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_7b71d4c0-c8a3-472b-a68f-8d820d3b742f.html"}]},{"content":"A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of California returned a 12-count indictment against Chartraw in December 2024, charging him with wire fraud related to the Crypto-Pal and TDA Global schemes. The indictment alleged that Chartraw claimed his companies possessed a proprietary algorithm capable of generating exceptional returns on cryptocurrency investments. Instead of investing victim funds as promised, Chartraw used investor money to fund his personal lifestyle and travel expenses. Chartraw was approximately 51 years old at the time of the indictment.","heading":"December 2024 Indictment","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: South Lake Tahoe Man Indicted on 12 Counts of Wire Fraud in Cryptocurrency Trading Scam","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/south-lake-tahoe-man-indicted-12-counts-wire-fraud-cryptocurrency-trading-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"South Tahoe Now: Former South Lake Tahoe man charged in cryptocurrency investment scheme (Dec 2024)","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.southtahoenow.com/story/12/19/2024/former-south-lake-tahoe-man-charged-cryptocurrency-investment-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Bloomberg Law: California Man Indicted for Wire Fraud in Crypto Trading Scam","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/california-man-indicted-for-wire-fraud-in-crypto-trading-scam"}]},{"content":"Across all schemes related to Crypto-Pal and TDA Global, total investor losses were nearly $1 million. Victims were sourced through personal referrals from friends and family members, a common tactic in affinity fraud. Chartraw's use of delayed withdrawal processing was another mechanism employed to prevent victims from recovering funds. No investors received promised returns or the return of their original principal. This loss figure is separate from and in addition to the estimated $2.6 to $3.6 million in losses Chartraw caused through his earlier precious metals fraud scheme.","heading":"Investor Losses and Victim Impact","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: Jury Finds Former South Lake Tahoe Man Guilty","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"},{"credibility":2,"name":"FinanceFeeds: Crypto Fraud Verdict — Daniel Chartraw Convicted","type":"news_article","url":"https://financefeeds.com/crypto-fraud-verdict-daniel-chartraw-convicted-in-nearly-1-million-investor-scam/"}]},{"content":"Chartraw is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on September 28, 2026. Each count of conviction carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Given the multi-count nature of the conviction, Chartraw faces the possibility of consecutive sentences. As of the date of this investigation, no sentencing has yet occurred and the final sentence has not been determined.","heading":"Sentencing Exposure","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: Jury Finds Former South Lake Tahoe Man Guilty","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Townhall: Jury Convicts Tahoe Man in $1M Crypto Fraud Scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2026/06/19/jury-convicts-tahoe-man-in-1m-crypto-fraud-scheme-n2678025"}]}],"sources_used":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: Jury Finds Former South Lake Tahoe Man Guilty of Multiple Cryptocurrency and Investment Fraud Schemes","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: South Lake Tahoe Man Indicted on 12 Counts of Wire Fraud in Cryptocurrency Trading Scam","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/south-lake-tahoe-man-indicted-12-counts-wire-fraud-cryptocurrency-trading-scam"},{"credibility":1,"name":"FBI Sacramento: Daniel Chartraw Sentenced in Multi-Million-Dollar Investment Fraud Scheme (2013)","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fbi.gov/sacramento/press-releases/2013/daniel-chartraw-sentenced-in-multi-million-dollar-investment-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"FBI Sacramento: Former El Dorado Hills Man Charged with Fraud (2012)","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fbi.gov/sacramento/press-releases/2012/former-el-dorado-hills-man-charged-with-fraud"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Bloomberg Law: California Man Indicted for Wire Fraud in Crypto Trading Scam","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/california-man-indicted-for-wire-fraud-in-crypto-trading-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Bitcoin.com News: Crypto-Pal Fraud Verdict Exposes Fake No-Risk Returns That Cost Investors Nearly $1M","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bitcoin.com/crypto-pal-fraud-verdict-exposes-fake-no-risk-returns-that-cost-investors-nearly-1m/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"GNCrypto News: Jury Convicts Crypto-Pal Promoter in $1M Crypto Fraud","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.gncrypto.news/news/jury-convicts-crypto-pal-promoter-1m-crypto-fraud/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"FinanceFeeds: Crypto Fraud Verdict — Daniel Chartraw Convicted In Nearly $1 Million Investor Scam","type":"news_article","url":"https://financefeeds.com/crypto-fraud-verdict-daniel-chartraw-convicted-in-nearly-1-million-investor-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"South Tahoe Now: Former South Lake Tahoe man found guilty of multiple schemes (June 2026)","type":"news_article","url":"https://southtahoenow.com/06/19/2026/former-south-lake-tahoe-man-found-guilty-of-multiple-schemes-that-defrauded-investors-of-nearly-1-million"},{"credibility":2,"name":"South Tahoe Now: Former South Lake Tahoe man charged in cryptocurrency investment scheme (Dec 2024)","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.southtahoenow.com/story/12/19/2024/former-south-lake-tahoe-man-charged-cryptocurrency-investment-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Lodi News: Former Lodi business owner found guilty of fraud","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_7b71d4c0-c8a3-472b-a68f-8d820d3b742f.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Townhall: Jury Convicts Tahoe Man in $1M Crypto Fraud Scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2026/06/19/jury-convicts-tahoe-man-in-1m-crypto-fraud-scheme-n2678025"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Action News Now: Man found guilty by federal jury in connection to multiple fraudulent schemes","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/man-found-guilty-by-federal-jury-in-connection-to-multiple-fraudulent-schemes-involving-business-ventures/article_c9d27504-de06-43d0-a79a-96991abd6150.html"}],"summary":"Daniel Chartraw, 53, formerly of South Lake Tahoe and Lodi, California, was convicted by a federal jury on June 18, 2026 in the Eastern District of California for operating Crypto-Pal LLC, a fraudulent web-based cryptocurrency trading platform that falsely guaranteed high returns with no risk. Chartraw defrauded investors of nearly $1 million between March 2021 and February 2022, operating under aliases to conceal a prior federal fraud conviction for a separate multi-million-dollar precious metals scheme. He faces up to 20 years in prison per count at sentencing scheduled for September 28, 2026.","timeline":[{"date":"2007-01-01","event":"Chartraw begins operating fraudulent investment schemes involving false claims about mines, minerals, and commodity purchases, running through approximately 2011.","source":"FBI Sacramento press release (2012)","source_url":"https://www.fbi.gov/sacramento/press-releases/2012/former-el-dorado-hills-man-charged-with-fraud"},{"date":"2011-01-01","event":"Chartraw becomes a fugitive while out on bond on Monterey County charges (grand theft, embezzlement, and corporal injury on spouse), flees to Mexico.","source":"Lodi News: Former Lodi business owner found guilty of fraud","source_url":"https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_7b71d4c0-c8a3-472b-a68f-8d820d3b742f.html"},{"date":"2012-01-01","event":"Chartraw is arrested in Mexico, deported, and arrested by the FBI. Charged with 18 counts of wire fraud for 2007-2011 precious metals and investment fraud schemes.","source":"FBI Sacramento press release (2012)","source_url":"https://www.fbi.gov/sacramento/press-releases/2012/former-el-dorado-hills-man-charged-with-fraud"},{"date":"2013-01-01","event":"Chartraw pleads guilty to wire fraud and is sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison with $2.8 million in restitution ordered. Total prior victim losses estimated at $2.6–$3.6 million.","source":"FBI Sacramento: Daniel Chartraw Sentenced","source_url":"https://www.fbi.gov/sacramento/press-releases/2013/daniel-chartraw-sentenced-in-multi-million-dollar-investment-fraud-scheme"},{"date":"2021-03-01","event":"Chartraw begins operating Crypto-Pal LLC and TDA Global LLC, soliciting investors with false promises of guaranteed high returns and no-risk cryptocurrency trading.","source":"DOJ USAO-EDCA conviction press release","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"},{"date":"2022-02-01","event":"Chartraw's Crypto-Pal and TDA Global fraud schemes end. Total investor losses reach nearly $1 million with no funds ever invested as represented.","source":"DOJ USAO-EDCA conviction press release","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"},{"date":"2024-12-19","event":"Federal grand jury in the Eastern District of California returns a 12-count indictment against Chartraw for wire fraud related to Crypto-Pal and TDA Global. Indictment unsealed and Chartraw arrested.","source":"South Tahoe Now: Former South Lake Tahoe man charged (Dec 2024)","source_url":"https://www.southtahoenow.com/story/12/19/2024/former-south-lake-tahoe-man-charged-cryptocurrency-investment-scheme"},{"date":"2026-06-18","event":"Federal jury finds Chartraw guilty on multiple counts of cryptocurrency and investment fraud after an eight-day trial in the Eastern District of California.","source":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: Jury Finds Former South Lake Tahoe Man Guilty","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"},{"date":"2026-09-28","event":"Sentencing scheduled before Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Chartraw faces maximum 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine per count.","source":"DOJ USAO-EDCA: Jury Finds Former South Lake Tahoe Man Guilty","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/jury-finds-former-south-lake-tahoe-man-guilty-multiple-cryptocurrency-and-investment"}]},"v":1}