SACRAMENTO — After an eight-day trial, a federal jury on June 18 returned a guilty verdict against Daniel Chartraw, 53, formerly of South Lake Tahoe and Lodi, finding him responsible for a wide-ranging series of fraudulent schemes involving cryptocurrency companies, sham business ventures and false investment guarantees that caused substantial financial losses to numerous victims across the country, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“This verdict sends a clear message: individuals who exploit the trust of others and steal through deception will be held accountable,” Grant said. “The defendant lied to investors and caused serious financial and emotional harm. Our office will continue to pursue those who use emerging technologies, including cryptocurrency, as vehicles for fraud.”
These frauds exploit emotional vulnerability and trust rather than technical weaknesses.
- Romance Scams: Scammers build long-term online relationships with victims, eventually fabricating a “crisis” (medical emergency, legal trouble, or travel costs) that requires the victim to send money.
- Pig Butchering: A hybrid scam where the criminal builds a romantic or platonic relationship to eventually “tutor” the victim in a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment.