Jeremie Sowerby of Fountain Hills was arrested final month for allegedly scamming a whole bunch of individuals in cryptocurrency funding schemes.
PHOENIX — When Sean Kuzmic realized concerning the arrest of his one-time buddy, Kuzmic says he was not shocked.
“He’s ripped off lots of people,” Kuzmic mentioned.
Jeremie Sowerby, 45, of Fountain Hills was arrested final month for allegedly scamming a whole bunch of individuals in cryptocurrency funding schemes. One alleged rip-off provided traders the prospect to buy or lease cryptocurrency mining machines, obtain new cash as rewards and alternate these cash for revenue. In actuality, in response to prosecutors, Sowerby “overpromised and by no means delivered.”
Based on investigations by the FBI and Arizona Company Fee, Sowerby’s ruse concerned showcasing to potential traders a Tempe warehouse crammed with pc laborious drives the place crypto mining came about 24/7. However investigators with the ACC allege Sowerby truly 3-D printed plastic packing containers made to seem like pc laborious drives.
Sowerby can also be accused of utilizing multi-level advertising and marketing techniques to recruit others. He pleaded not responsible to the federal expenses and is being held with out bond. He declined to remark, in response to his legal professional.
“After I noticed him busted, that was such a aid. I’m like, it’s about time,” mentioned Kuzmic.
Based on Kuzmic, Sowerby gained his belief greater than a decade in the past by paying again small loans from him. Sowerby made his associates consider he wished them to achieve success, Kuzmic mentioned. Sowerby labored for a official MLM firm and exaggerated his function within the operation, in response to Kuzmic.
“He has expertise scamming individuals and overpromising and underdelivering in speeches and get-togethers.”
The connection between the lads fell aside after property funding.
A photograph supplied by Kuzmic memorializes a contract Sowerby allegedly entered into with Kuzmic. It reveals Sowerby because the borrower and Kuzmic because the lender. Kuzmic says the settlement turned out to be a lie and Sowerby left the nation with Kuzmic’s cash.
Kuzmic mentioned Sowerby owes him greater than $50,000.
“Man, he put me in tears, the harm I had considering he was my buddy,” Kuzmic mentioned. “In hindsight, I do know different individuals bought ripped off too. They’re most likely asking the identical factor: How did we let this man steal from us, you already know?”
By 2016, Sowerby was allegedly doing enterprise once more in Arizona. That’s when he started establishing corporations with a co-conspirator, Luis Ortega of Litchfield Park, in response to court docket information.
Sowerby networked with others via Christian communities, Kuzmic mentioned.
After Sowerby’s arrest, a letter was submitted to the decide vouching for Sowerby’s character. It was signed by a Valley pastor, William Markley of Church for the Nations. The letter said Sowerby had confirmed to be “upstanding, trustworthy, and righteous”. 12News tried to contact Markley however was unsuccessful.
Courtroom information allege Sowerby falsely advised traders that celebrities like Justin Bieber and Snoop Dogg endorsed his corporations. Sowerby was so convincing, traders allegedly poured greater than $57 million into one account managed by Sowerby, in response to the ACC go well with.
The Arizona Company Fee has been investigating Sowerby for a number of years and filed a civil motion in opposition to Sowerby in 2022.
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