Toronto jury convicts self-styled “Crypto King” of fraud
Aiden Pleterski, 27, was found guilty of fraud after a jury determined he misappropriated millions of dollars from investors for personal luxuries.
A Toronto jury on Thursday convicted Aiden Pleterski, who marketed himself as a “Crypto King,” of fraud after a short deliberation. The 27-year-old was found guilty of one count of fraud involving more than C$5,000, following a trial that featured testimony from over a dozen witnesses, including investors, accountants and financial experts.
Prosecutors said Pleterski diverted roughly C$36 million of investor funds, spending about half on private-jet trips, luxury vehicles, a lake-front mansion in Burlington and high-value consumer goods. Bankruptcy filings indicated he purchased a McLaren, a BMW for his parents, a Louis Vuitton bag, a Burberry coat and a 2017 Bentley Bentayga using the misappropriated money.
Pleterski, who represented himself and did not present any evidence, was charged in May 2024 with fraud and money-laundering after a 16-month joint investigation by Durham Regional Police and the Ontario Securities Commission. The case was described by Durham Regional Police Chief Peter Moreira at the time as potentially the largest fraud investigation in the region.
"Pleterski was no 'Crypto King'. He was a thief who stole investor money and used it as he pleased," said Crown prosecutor Akshay Aurora during closing arguments.
The conviction follows Pleterski’s December 2022 kidnapping, during which he was assaulted and his captors demanded a ransom. In a video obtained by CBC News, he expressed remorse for the impact of his actions.