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SEC Sues Texas Man Over $12.3 Million Crypto Fraud Using Fake AI Trading Bots

The SEC alleges the operation funneled investor cash into personal spending and Ponzi‑style payouts while using fabricated AI materials to recruit victims.

Overview

  • The SEC filed a civil complaint on May 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas accusing Nathan Fuller of running a $12.3 million fraud through Privvy Investments and Gateway Digital Investments.
  • Prosecutors say Fuller raised funds from about 150 investors between October 2022 and mid‑2024 by promising extreme short‑term returns from proprietary AI trading bots that never operated as described.
  • The complaint details that only about $380,000, roughly 3% of the money raised, was used to buy cryptocurrency while about $6.2 million went to personal expenses and about $5.5 million was used to pay earlier investors.
  • The SEC says Fuller used forged account statements, fabricated documents, fictitious credentials and an AI‑generated audit letter to reassure investors and conceal losses.
  • The agency is seeking permanent injunctions, disgorgement, civil penalties and industry bans, and the case follows a bankruptcy proceeding that reportedly found Fuller admitted to operating a Ponzi scheme and was denied discharge.