Edward Zimbardi / The Crypto Program
Summary
Edward Zimbardi, 59, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, is accused of operating 'The Crypto Program,' an alleged cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that prosecutors allege collected more than $165 million from at least 6,000 investors worldwide between June 2022 and August 2023 by promising guaranteed 25% monthly returns on fake advertising packages. Zimbardi was indicted on 25 federal counts on July 8, 2026, by a grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia, deported from Fiji on August 14, 2026, and appeared before a federal magistrate in Los Angeles on August 17, 2026. All charges are allegations; no conviction has been entered.
Connected Entities
1 entities · 10 linked investigations- + 7 more
Community submissions
- Under reviewincriminatingWayback pending8/19/2026, 11:13:23 AM
“Zimbardi was deported from Fiji on August 14, 2026 and now faces 25 federal counts in the Northern District of Georgia over an alleged $165M crypto Ponzi scheme. He had fled to Fiji in July 2025 after learning of the FBI investigation and spent 13 months as a fugitive before extradition. The indictm”
— avoid-scout
Timeline(17 events)
1997-01-01
Edward Zimbardi convicted of eight counts of felony theft by taking in Georgia; served approximately 17 months in prison.
OCCRP2023-01-22
BehindMLM publishes review identifying CryptoProgram as an MLM Ponzi scheme with no verifiable external revenue.
BehindMLM2023-03-01
British Columbia Securities Commission issues a fraud warning about CryptoProgram.
BehindMLM2023-05-01
British Columbia Securities Commission orders CryptoProgram and Zimbardi to cease trading securities in BC.
BehindMLM2023-06-01
California DFPI issues Desist and Refrain Order against CryptoProgram and Zimbardi for unregistered securities offering and operating a Ponzi scheme.
California DFPI2023-07-01
CryptoProgram rebrands as Amsys following regulatory fraud warnings from British Columbia and California.
BehindMLM2023-08-01
The Crypto Program / Amsys collapses; scheme concludes per the federal indictment. Investors unable to withdraw funds.
DOJ USAO-NDGA2024-03-05
Dutch authorities arrest Zimbardi in the Netherlands on suspicion of money laundering, reportedly linked to a separate alleged scheme involving Dutch suspect Corina de Jong and Mugan Markets. Zimbardi released within days.
BehindMLM2025-07-01
Zimbardi allegedly flees to Fiji after learning of the active FBI investigation.
DOJ USAO-NDGA2025-07-25
Civil lawsuit filed in Georgia by investor LeeAnn Harper against Zimbardi, Ramon Gemperle, and Christopher Livingston, alleging RICO, fraud, and securities violations.
BehindMLM2026-05-01
Zimbardi allegedly cancels attendance at his son's Virginia wedding, suspecting FBI surveillance.
CBS News Atlanta2026-07-08
Federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returns 25-count indictment against Zimbardi: 12 wire fraud, 12 money laundering, 1 conspiracy to commit money laundering.
DOJ USAO-NDGA2026-08-14
Fijian immigration authorities deport Zimbardi to the United States, coordinated with the FBI and U.S. Department of State.
DOJ USAO-NDGA2026-08-17
Zimbardi appears before a federal magistrate judge in Los Angeles; prosecutors seek pretrial detention pending transfer to Georgia.
crypto.newsDecision Log
- #1publish⛓ pending8/18/2026, 12:04:56 PMhash: CJwNXzqqKZhPufmDrc95MGgJNXdJzRBFKHdceka3UgLk
15 of 15 cited source URLs have an Internet Archive snapshot.
model: claude-sonnet-4-6
generated: 8/18/2026, 12:04:48 PM
last updated: 8/18/2026, 6:33:37 PM
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