Edward Zimbardi, a 59-year-old from Flowery Branch, Georgia, has been returned to the United States after Fijian authorities deported him on Aug. 14, federal prosecutors announced. He now faces 25 federal charges — 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering — in the Northern District of Georgia. Zimbardi is expected to appear before a federal magistrate judge in Los Angeles on Aug. 17 before the case proceeds in Georgia, where prosecutors plan to seek his detention.
According to the Justice Department and FBI, Zimbardi created and promoted The Crypto Program between June 2022 and August 2023. The operation allegedly promised investors guaranteed monthly returns of 25% through digital advertising package investments. Prosecutors say thousands of investors transferred more than $165 million in cryptocurrency to wallets Zimbardi secretly controlled. Instead of purchasing advertising packages, the indictment alleges that later investor funds were used to pay earlier investors — a hallmark of a Ponzi scheme.
The Justice Department says more than $34 million of investor funds went into risky foreign currency trades that produced substantial losses, while at least $10 million allegedly covered personal expenses including a house for Zimbardi’s son, luxury vehicles and alimony payments. Zimbardi allegedly fled to Fiji in July 2025 after learning of the FBI investigation and remained there for more than one year. He is also accused of canceling plans to attend his son’s wedding in Virginia in May 2026 because he suspected FBI agents would arrest him.
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Department of State, the SEC, the CFTC, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, the Georgia Secretary of State and Fijian authorities. The charges remain allegations, and Zimbardi is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The FBI has opened a dedicated portal for potential victims to submit information, though restitution would depend on the prosecution outcome and verified losses.
