A federal grand jury in the US has charged Benjamin Paul Wiener, 43, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with 29 federal counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors say the scheme cost investors about $20 million, with dozens of victims in South Dakota and Minnesota.
The indictment alleges that Wiener ran several businesses, raised money from investors, misled them about how the funds would be used, and spent them on things that didn’t match what he promised. The money moved through banks and crypto platforms.
Wiener has pleaded not guilty, and the charges have yet to be proven. If found guilty on all counts, Wiener could receive more than 30 years in prison. The trial is set for September 2026.