On January 12, a federal court approved twelve settlements between a court-appointed Receiver and net-winners from The Traders Domain Ponzi scheme. These clawback lawsuits, first filed in October 2025, aim to recover funds for victims who lost money in the fraudulent investment operation. The court's approval follows the Receiver's request on January 7 for these specific agreements.
The Traders Domain operated as a purported foreign exchange and cryptocurrency trading platform. It promised high returns through managed accounts, but instead functioned as a classic Ponzi scheme, paying early investors with money from later investors. When the scheme collapsed, a Receiver was appointed to identify assets, liquidate them, and distribute the proceeds equitably among the defrauded participants. Clawback lawsuits are a standard tool in these situations, targeting individuals who withdrew more money than they initially invested.
Some of the settling net-winners were not named in earlier reports of clawback litigation, suggesting the Receiver's legal efforts continue to broaden. The goal of these actions is to reclaim funds that were not legitimate trading profits but rather transfers derived from other victims' capital. Such transfers are often deemed fraudulent under bankruptcy and receivership laws, allowing the court to compel their return.
Thomas Robinson agreed to repay $117,000, representing 100% of his net gains. Troy Mock will return $84,261, also a 100% recovery. Johnnie Green, operating under the business name The Winning Marker, settled for $14,499, fully recovering his net proceeds. Serhiy Vodyanitskyy will pay back $224,160, achieving a 100% recovery for the Receiver.
Other settlements involved partial recoveries of the net gains. Johnathan Logan will pay $29,500 of the $42,531 he received, a 69% recovery. Race to Freedom Inc. agreed to return $380,000 from the $515,000 it received, totaling a 74% recovery rate. Lan Thi Nguyen's settlement requires her to pay back $15,000 of the $80,000 she received, equating to a 19% recovery. Tiffany Jones-Evans will return $50,000 of her $68,361 in net withdrawals, a 73% recovery.
The largest individual settlement came from Alayna Stepter and Inspired Estate LLC, who collectively agreed to pay back $1,450,000 from the $3,000,000 they received. This represents a 48% recovery of their net gains. In one instance, Influencer Media Group LLC will not return any of the $175,000 it received, as its clawback claim was offset by losses tied to related investor accounts within the scheme.
The Receiver also pursued assets from individuals connected to key figures in the scheme. Bony Cruz, identified as the mother of Juan Herman, assisted in the sale of a Miami Lakes property Herman had transferred to her. As part of her settlement, she will turn over five vehicles belonging to Herman and her financial interest in two condominium units. Jeremy Levine and The Levine Law Firm P.C., who acted as legal counsel for Holton Buggs, another individual associated with the scheme, will pay back $40,984. These funds were categorized as "handling fees" paid to the firm.
With these newly approved agreements, the total amount recovered through net-winner clawbacks in The Traders Domain case now stands at just over $2.8 million. The law firm representing the Receiver is entitled to a percentage of these recovered amounts, typically ranging from 25% to 40%. From the recent settlements alone, this fee structure accounts for $228,980. Victims of The Traders Domain scheme can monitor the court docket for further updates on asset distribution.