Mining Capital Coin CEO indicted in DOJ fraud case

The Department of Justice is levying a case against the CEO of Mining Capital Coin (MCC) for allegedly running a $62 million global fraud scheme.

Luiz Capuci, Jr. was indicted for allegedly misleading investors about MCC's mining and investing program. Capuci and his team allegedly claimed the firm's international network of mining machines could generate large profits and guaranteed returns if investors' bought into the so-called "Mining Packages."

Capuci allegedly told investors their funds would be used to mine new cryptocurrency. 

He also allegedly touted MCC's own token, Capital Coin, as linked to a decentralized autonomous organization that he said was "stabilized by revenue from the biggest cryptocurrency mining operation in the world," according to the DOJ's findings. 

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In addition to the mining packages and token sale, Capuci also allegedly marketed his own trading bots to investors, claiming they could achieve daily returns utilizing a never-before-seen technology. 

In all these cases, the DOJ contends that Capuci did not use the funds to mine crypto or deliver returns from trading bots, but diverted them to his own wallets.

The DOJ also alleges Capuci ran MCC as a pyramid scheme, promising promoters and affiliates gifts and rewards for luring other investors. 

Capuci is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit international money laundering, which all together reached a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. 

About Author

Aislinn Keely is a reporter on The Block's policy team holding down the legal beat. She covers court decisions, bankruptcies, regulatory actions and other key moments in the legal sphere, putting them in context for the wider crypto industry. Before The Block, she lent her voice to the NPR affiliate WFUV and helmed Fordham University's student newspaper. Send tips or thoughts on all things policy and legal to [email protected] or follow her on Twitter for updates @AislinnKeely.