OF THOSE TRAVEL TIMES HERE ALONG THE I-4 CORRIDOR IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. IN JUST A FEW HOURS, THE ORANGE COUNTY MAN ACCUSED OF RUNNING A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PONZI SCHEME WILL BE IN COURT TO PLEAD GUILTY. PROSECUTORS SAY CHRISTOPHER DELGADO STOLE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM INVESTORS. WESH TWO BOB HAZEN LIVE FOR US THIS MORNING AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE. AND BOB DELGADO ALLEGEDLY BLEW THAT MONEY ON LUXURIES FOR HIMSELF. YEAH. NOW HE’LL HAVE TO GIVE UP ALL OF THAT AS PART OF A PLEA DEAL WITH THE FEDS. AND WE ALSO EXPECT HE’LL HAVE TO SPEND SOME AMOUNT OF TIME IN PRISON. CHRISTOPHER DELGADO RAN A COMPANY CALLED GOLIATH VENTURES, AND HE TOLD CUSTOMERS THAT HE WOULD INVEST THEIR MONEY IN A CRYPTOCURRENCY VENTURE, AND FOR A WHILE, IT PAID THEM BIG RETURNS EVERY MONTH. WE’RE TOLD GOLIATH PULLED IN CLOSE TO $500 MILLION, BUT INVESTIGATORS SAY DELGADO ACTUALLY PUT A VERY LITTLE OF THAT MONEY INTO INVESTMENTS AND WAS REALLY USING THE CASH FROM NEW INVESTORS TO PAY THE OLD ONES AND THEN KEEPING THE REST FOR HIMSELF. THE FEDS SAY DELGADO SPENT IT ON LOTS OF PROPERTIES, INCLUDING A MANSION IN ISLEWORTH AND HOMES IN WINTER PARK, SANFORD AND OFFICE SPACE DOWNTOWN. HE ALSO BOUGHT CARS, A PAIR OF LAMBORGHINIS, A BENTLEY, SOME ROLLS ROYCES AND OTHERS. HE WAS ARRESTED FOUR MONTHS AGO AND SINCE THEN HAS WORKED OUT A DEAL WITH PROSECUTORS, WHICH WILL HAVE TO FORFEIT $250 MILLION WORTH OF THOSE LUXURY ITEMS AND PAY THE SAME AMOUNT BACK TO HIS VICTIMS AS RESTITUTION. PLUS, HE’S LOOKING AT PRISON TIME. HE’S PLEADING GUILTY TO THREE COUNTS RELATED TO FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING, AND THAT COULD MEAN UP TO 50 YEARS BEHIND BARS. WE DID HEAR FROM ONE VICTIM AFTER THAT PLEA DEAL GOT OUT, AND HE TOLD US, QUOTE, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO SET AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE INVOLVED TO SHOW OTHERS WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THEY DECIDE TO CON PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR MONEY. WE DO KNOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO ASK THE JUDGE FOR A DOWNWARD DEPARTURE ON THOSE SENTENCES, SO HE SHOULD GET LESS PRISON TIME THAN THE MAX OF WHAT HE COULD POTENTIALLY GET. WE’LL SEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH HE REALLY DOES GET WHEN HE SHOWS UP AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE LATER THIS MORNING, AND ENTERS THAT GUILTY PLEA OFFICIALLY. THAT HEARING IS SET TO START AT 930 THI
Orange County man accused of Ponzi scheme expected to plead guilty
Updated: 7:35 AM EDT Jun 30, 2026
Christopher Delgado, an Orange County man accused of orchestrating a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, is set to plead guilty to wire fraud charges in federal court Tuesday morning. Related: CEO of Orlando company arrested in alleged cryptocurrency Ponzi schemeDelgado, who ran a company called Goliath Ventures, promised investors their money would go into a cryptocurrency liquidity pool with high monthly returns. However, investigators said he used funds from new investors to pay older ones, which is the definition of a Ponzi scheme. Delgado allegedly brought in close to $500 million and spent the money on luxury items, including properties such as a nearly $5 million mansion in Isleworth and a house in Winter Park. He also purchased high-end cars, including Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces and a Bentley. Related: US seeks all assets purchased with proceeds of Goliath Ventures fraud schemeAs part of his plea deal, Delgado has agreed to turn over $250 million in assets and pay the same amount to his victims. He is pleading guilty to three charges related to wire fraud, which carry a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison. However, the government is expected to recommend a reduced sentence, known as a downward departure. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Orlando.Related: Orlando businessman accused of running Ponzi scheme facing class action lawsuit
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Christopher Delgado, an Orange County man accused of orchestrating a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, is set to plead guilty to wire fraud charges in federal court Tuesday morning.
Related: CEO of Orlando company arrested in alleged cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme
Delgado, who ran a company called Goliath Ventures, promised investors their money would go into a cryptocurrency liquidity pool with high monthly returns.
However, investigators said he used funds from new investors to pay older ones, which is the definition of a Ponzi scheme.
Delgado allegedly brought in close to $500 million and spent the money on luxury items, including properties such as a nearly $5 million mansion in Isleworth and a house in Winter Park. He also purchased high-end cars, including Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces and a Bentley.
Related: US seeks all assets purchased with proceeds of Goliath Ventures fraud scheme
As part of his plea deal, Delgado has agreed to turn over $250 million in assets and pay the same amount to his victims.
He is pleading guilty to three charges related to wire fraud, which carry a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison. However, the government is expected to recommend a reduced sentence, known as a downward departure.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Orlando.
Related: Orlando businessman accused of running Ponzi scheme facing class action lawsuit