The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has filed criminal charges against John Louis Anthony Bigatton.

Bigatton served as an Australian Director of the infamous
BitConnect Ponzi scheme
.

In September ASIC hit Bigatton with a
seven-year financial services ban
.

Following a lengthy investigation, ASIC has now additionally
charged Bigatton
(right) with:

one count of operating an unregistered managed investment scheme;

one count of providing unlicensed financial services on behalf of another person; and

four counts of making a false or misleading statement affecting market participation.

If convicted of all counts Bigatton is facing a forty-seven year prison sentence, and/or fines potentially running into the millions.

ASIC presented their case in court on November 17th. The next court hearing is scheduled for February 2nd, 2021.

Of note is ASIC acknowledging the

assistance of our domestic and international law enforcement counterparts in progressing its investigation, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

We’re at a bit of an awkward point now, where a regulator typically known for doing nothing (ASIC), has taken action against BitConnect scammers before US authorities.

Daily Exposed first became aware of the FBI investigation into BitConnect in
March 2018
.

In addition to assisting Australian authorities, the FBI has also
shown interest in India’s efforts
to bring BitConnect scammers to justice.

Beyond that however, the status of the US authorities various investigations into BitConnect remains unclear.

Top US BitConnect executive Glenn Arcaro
fled the US
in January 2018. Top promoters Trevon James and Craig Grant remain at large.

James continues to promote various cryptocurrency scams on YouTube.

Craig Grant documents his bounce house business, also on YouTube. His cryptocurrency related videos have been put behind a subscribers only paywall.

Update 19th May 2024 – 
John Bigatton has
pled guilty to providing unlicensed financial services on behalf of another person
.

🤖 Quick Answer

Who is John Louis Anthony Bigatton and what are the criminal charges against him?
John Louis Anthony Bigatton served as an Australian Director of BitConnect, a Ponzi scheme. He faces criminal charges including operating an unregistered managed investment scheme, providing unlicensed financial services, and making false statements affecting market participation. Conviction could result in forty-seven years imprisonment and substantial fines.

What enforcement actions has ASIC taken against Bigatton?
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission imposed a seven-year financial services ban on Bigatton in September, followed by criminal charges filed after an extensive investigation. ASIC presented its case in court on November 17, pursuing multiple counts related to his involvement in BitConnect's fraudulent operations.

🔗 Related Articles

- BitConnect class-action lawsuit filed over $771,000 in losses
- Seventh BitConnect lawsuit filed in California ($110,000 in losses)
- Michael Noble also likely facing BitConnect criminal charges
- Seventh BitConnect class-action voluntarily dismissed (California)
- BitConnect defendant claims victims are “crybaby ass motherfuckers”