‘Crypto King’ Aiden Pleterski Faces Fraud and Money Laundering Charges

Canadian police are charging self-proclaimed “Crito King” and social media personality Aiden Pletersky with one count of defrauding more than $5,000 Canadian dollars ($3,666) and money laundering after a lengthy investigation. His accomplice, Colin Murphy, has also been charged with fraud, according to police and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC).

Pleterski was arrested on May 14 and released the same day on a C$100,000 bond posted by his parents. Colin Murphy has been accused of soliciting investments and claiming to “make huge weekly profits on viable investments”. Murphy was released on a promise to appear in court.

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Fraud over $5,000 is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Durham Regional Police Service and the OSC declined to disclose the financial details behind the charges in a May 16 press release, citing a publication ban, but said the scam continued until February 2024.

Police launched an investigation into Pletersky and his company AP Private Equity in July 2022 after several complaints. Durham Police Chief Peter Moreira told the newspaper

“This investigation was extremely thorough, with more than 40 court orders and over 18 months of in-depth analysis of financial documents.”

An investor sued them for fraud three months ago. Platersky and the company were declared bankrupt in August of that year, and bankruptcy trustee Platersky C raised $41.5 million and invested 1.6 percent. He spent C$15.9 million, including a Lamborghini, two McLarens and two BMWs, a mansion and private jets.

Pletersky continued to live a jet-setting lifestyle despite bankruptcy and his trustee filing for bankruptcy. In the year He claimed to have been kidnapped and tortured by a businessman in December 2022, leading to five arrests by police in Toronto in July 2023.

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