Jackie Aguilar, a defendant in the AirBit Club cryptocurrency fraud scheme, died on May 28th, prompting a dismissal of her case and a series of rescheduled sentencings for her five co-defendants. Her attorney filed notice with the court four days after her death.

Aguilar was one of six individuals who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges stemming from the AirBit Club operation. She had been scheduled for sentencing on June 27th. The court received her death certificate on June 22nd, leading to the case against her being dismissed on June 26th.

The AirBit Club scheme operated as a purported cryptocurrency mining and trading platform, promising investors daily returns. Prosecutors described it as a Ponzi scheme, luring participants with multi-level marketing tactics and claims of guaranteed profits from phantom cryptocurrency operations. Investors bought memberships and packages that generated fictitious returns, funded by new investor money rather than actual mining or trading activities.

Following Aguilar's death, the remaining defendants requested delays in their own sentencing hearings. This created a cascade of new dates on the federal court docket.

On June 12th, Karina Chairez's attorney filed a letter motion seeking to postpone her sentencing. Chairez is out on bail and this was her first request for an adjournment. The motion stated Chairez's physician recommended surgery, and her attorney needed more time to gather records relevant to sentencing. Chairez's original June 28th sentencing moved to September 26th.

Scott Hughes' attorney filed a letter motion on June 23rd, also requesting a sentencing adjournment. The filing cited a need for more time and scheduling conflicts. Hughes' August 9th sentencing date was then moved to September 6th.

Cecilia Milan's attorney filed a similar letter motion on June 23rd, asking for a two-month delay. No specific explanation was provided in the public filing, but the Department of Justice signed off on the request. Milan's July 25th original sentencing date shifted to September 26th.

AirBit Club's co-founders, Renato Rodriguez and Gutemberg Dos Santos, faced their own scheduling adjustments. Rodriguez was initially set for sentencing on July 25th, and Dos Santos on September 27th. On July 20th, Rodriguez's lawyer filed a letter motion requesting additional time to "properly prepare the defense submission." His July 25th sentencing was rescheduled to September 6th, 2023.

Further letter motions filed in August resulted in another round of rescheduling for several defendants. Scott Hughes' sentencing was again moved, this time to September 26th, 2023. Renato Rodriguez's sentencing also shifted to September 26th, 2023. Cecilia Milan's new date became October 3rd, 2023.

Renato Rodriguez ultimately received a sentence of 12 years in federal prison on September 27th.