Ex-CEO of Investment Firm Pleads Guilty to Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme

Peter Kambolin, the former CEO of a Miami-based investment firm, Systematic Alpha Management LLC (SAM), pleaded guilty on October 11, 2023, to a fraudulent scheme involving cryptocurrency futures contracts, as announced by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) on October 12. This marks a landmark case as it's the first criminal charge against a Commodities Trading Advisor and Commodities Pool Operator for engaging in a "cherry-picking" scheme concerning cryptocurrency futures contracts.

Kambolin, a 48-year-old U.S.-Russian national residing in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, executed a scheme where he dishonestly allocated profitable futures trades to his personal accounts, leaving his investors with the losses. The misappropriation of trades took place between January 2019 and November 2021, a period during which Kambolin marketed his firm as a platform offering algorithmic trading strategies in futures contracts.

Misrepresentation to Investors

Investors were mislead to believe that SAM was focused on trading cryptocurrency futures and foreign exchange futures contracts. However, nearly 50% of Kambolin’s trading in each pool was actually related to equity index futures contracts. This false representation deprived investors in the United States and overseas of profitable trades, undermining their confidence in the commodities market.

Kambolin further utilized the proceeds from this fraudulent scheme to cover personal expenses, such as the rent for a beachfront apartment. Additionally, he funneled some of the funds to foreign bank accounts controlled by his co-conspirator in Belarus and Dominica.

Legal Proceedings and Repercussions

The fraudulent activities prompted legal action, with Kambolin now facing a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Although a sentencing date has yet to be set, the case signifies the Justice Department's dedication to prosecuting financial market malpractices using data analytics. The DOJ, together with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is committed to restoring investor trust by holding individuals like Kambolin accountable for their fraudulent actions.

The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, with the FDIC-OIG investigating. Previously, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission had filed a complaint against Kambolin and SAM, shedding light on the illicit activities.