The man behind an Orlando crypto investment firm, which prosecutors describe as a Ponzi scheme, is facing a slew of lawsuits in addition to criminal charges. This week, a federal class action lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Florida on behalf of people who claim to have invested with Christopher Delgado and his company, Goliath Ventures. A separate federal class action lawsuit has been filed in California against JPMorgan Chase, alleging it played a role in the alleged scheme, as the sole financial arm in Delgado’s investment business. Delgado is charged in federal court with money laundering and wire fraud. Prosecutors say Delgado ran a Ponzi scheme based on bogus investments into what are called cryptocurrency liquidity pools. When operated lawfully, investor money is used to buy and trade tokens without using intermediaries. A Ponzi scheme is the collection of money for what is supposed to be a regulated investment opportunity, but instead, the receiver of the investment keeps the money. Often, fake financial records are created and distributed to investors showing how their money is growing, when in fact, any returns and payouts are actually funded by the next investor. In Delgado’s case, the U.S. Justice Department alleges those investments in Goliath Ventures were “artificially manipulated” to promise monthly returns of “5%.” Instead, prosecutors claim Delgado amassed a staggering stockpile of wealth, including a dozen luxury vehicles, jewelry and four local homes worth $14.5-million. “It just, I don’t know. It just hurts. I feel like a fool,” said one investor who spoke exclusively with WESH 2 Investigates. He wishes not to be identified, and was in tears as he described investing in Goliath Ventures. Unlike some who invested in Delgado’s company, who were already wealthy, this man says he invested his life savings, and now fears he’ll never get it back, and could lose his home. He added, “I can’t even talk about it. Just, I feel like I’ve hurt so many people. I don’t know what to do now. I invested $500,000.” He says he invested in Goliath through Jonathan Mason, an Altamonte Springs financial advisor who calls himself “Money Mase” on his website. Mason is not charged criminally, but is named as a defendant, along with Eric Clayman, Delgado and Goliath Ventures in a federal civil lawsuit brought by Prestige Florida Property Investment of Orlando. Prestige alleges its executives were also victims of a “Ponzi scheme.” Mason declined to comment and referred us to his attorney, who did not return our message requesting comment. An attorney for Clayman, who is himself a Ft. Lauderdale Lawyer, did provide comment. Attorney Jonathan Feldman said, “Mr. Clayman, unfortunately like others, is a victim of Mr. Delgado’s fraud. We cannot comment on any other matter involving Goliath Ventures at this time.” The investor who spoke with WESH 2 Investigates is hoping he’ll get some of his money back, if Delgado’s assets are liquidated. He’s facing up to 30 years, if convicted. The investor added, “I hope he (Delgado) pays. I hope he spends every bit of 30 years (in prison, if convicted) and no parole.” Three Broward county circuit court civil lawsuits have been filed in the Goliath Ventures case, in addition to a federal class action lawsuit filed in south Florida on behalf of investors, and also in addition to a California federal class action lawsuit filed against JPMorgan Chase for allegedly facilitating Goliath Ventures’ crypto operation. All of it traces back to Christopher Delgado, who has to surrender his assets to the court by April 30.WESH 2 Investigates The WESH 2 Investigates team is comprised of Greg Fox and Justin Schecker. Greg Fox has worked in broadcast journalism for nearly 44 years, 39 of which have been at WESH 2 News in Orlando. He has covered politics the entire time and investigative news for 25 of those years. Contact him at gfox@wesh.comJustin Schecker joined the WESH 2 Investigates team in September 2024. He’s spent the past six years of his broadcast journalism career reporting in Florida, with a focus on politics, criminal justice and education. Contact him at justin.schecker@hearst.com

ORLANDO, Fla. —

The man behind an Orlando crypto investment firm, which prosecutors describe as a Ponzi scheme, is facing a slew of lawsuits in addition to criminal charges.

This week, a federal class action lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Florida on behalf of people who claim to have invested with Christopher Delgado and his company, Goliath Ventures. A separate federal class action lawsuit has been filed in California against JPMorgan Chase, alleging it played a role in the alleged scheme, as the sole financial arm in Delgado’s investment business.

Delgado is charged in federal court with money laundering and wire fraud. Prosecutors say Delgado ran a Ponzi scheme based on bogus investments into what are called cryptocurrency liquidity pools. When operated lawfully, investor money is used to buy and trade tokens without using intermediaries.

A Ponzi scheme is the collection of money for what is supposed to be a regulated investment opportunity, but instead, the receiver of the investment keeps the money.

Often, fake financial records are created and distributed to investors showing how their money is growing, when in fact, any returns and payouts are actually funded by the next investor.

In Delgado’s case, the U.S. Justice Department alleges those investments in Goliath Ventures were “artificially manipulated” to promise monthly returns of “5%.” Instead, prosecutors claim Delgado amassed a staggering stockpile of wealth, including a dozen luxury vehicles, jewelry and four local homes worth $14.5-million.

“It just, I don’t know. It just hurts. I feel like a fool,” said one investor who spoke exclusively with WESH 2 Investigates.

He wishes not to be identified, and was in tears as he described investing in Goliath Ventures. Unlike some who invested in Delgado’s company, who were already wealthy, this man says he invested his life savings, and now fears he’ll never get it back, and could lose his home.

He added, “I can’t even talk about it. Just, I feel like I’ve hurt so many people. I don’t know what to do now. I invested $500,000.”

He says he invested in Goliath through Jonathan Mason, an Altamonte Springs financial advisor who calls himself “Money Mase” on his website. Mason is not charged criminally, but is named as a defendant, along with Eric Clayman, Delgado and Goliath Ventures in a federal civil lawsuit brought by Prestige Florida Property Investment of Orlando. Prestige alleges its executives were also victims of a “Ponzi scheme.”

Mason declined to comment and referred us to his attorney, who did not return our message requesting comment. An attorney for Clayman, who is himself a Ft. Lauderdale Lawyer, did provide comment. Attorney Jonathan Feldman said, “Mr. Clayman, unfortunately like others, is a victim of Mr. Delgado’s fraud. We cannot comment on any other matter involving Goliath Ventures at this time.”

The investor who spoke with WESH 2 Investigates is hoping he’ll get some of his money back, if Delgado’s assets are liquidated. He’s facing up to 30 years, if convicted. The investor added, “I hope he (Delgado) pays. I hope he spends every bit of 30 years (in prison, if convicted) and no parole.”

Three Broward county circuit court civil lawsuits have been filed in the Goliath Ventures case, in addition to a federal class action lawsuit filed in south Florida on behalf of investors, and also in addition to a California federal class action lawsuit filed against JPMorgan Chase for allegedly facilitating Goliath Ventures’ crypto operation.

All of it traces back to Christopher Delgado, who has to surrender his assets to the court by April 30.

WESH 2 Investigates

The WESH 2 Investigates team is comprised of Greg Fox and Justin Schecker.

Greg Fox has worked in broadcast journalism for nearly 44 years, 39 of which have been at WESH 2 News in Orlando. He has covered politics the entire time and investigative news for 25 of those years. Contact him at gfox@wesh.com

Justin Schecker joined the WESH 2 Investigates team in September 2024. He’s spent the past six years of his broadcast journalism career reporting in Florida, with a focus on politics, criminal justice and education. Contact him at justin.schecker@hearst.com