Montenegro Arrests FutureNet Co-Founder in $21M Crypto Fraud Case

Roman Ziemian, the co-founder of the now-infamous FutureNet, has been arrested by Montenegrin police in the capital city of Podgorica. Ziemian, who had been living under a false identity, is accused of orchestrating a $21 million cryptocurrency fraud scheme. His arrest marks a significant development in an international investigation involving multiple countries, with allegations of fraud, money laundering, and theft. This case, which has left investors around the world with significant financial losses, continues to unfold and we are here to tell you all about it.

A Long-Awaited Arrest Of The Alleged Crypto Mogul

Authorities in Montenegro announced on August 19th that they had detained Roman Ziemian, one of the key figures behind FutureNet, a company accused of orchestrating a massive crypto fraud. According to the Montenegrin Police Directorate, Ziemian was living under a false identity in Podgorica, the country’s capital. The specialized police unit responsible for his arrest discovered various devices and items suspected of being used in his alleged criminal activities.

This arrest was not the result of a new investigation. Ziemian had been on the radar of authorities for years, with both South Korea and Poland issuing warrants for his arrest. The charges against him are severe, ranging from fraud and money laundering to theft. If convicted, Ziemian could face life imprisonment in South Korea, a stark contrast to the comfortable life he appeared to be leading in Montenegro.

The Rise and Fall of FutureNet

To understand the significance of Ziemian’s arrest, one must first look back at the story of FutureNet. Co-founded by Ziemian and Stephan Morgenstern in 2018, FutureNet initially presented itself as a multilevel marketing (MLM) business with a crypto twist. The company introduced FuturoCoin (FTO), a cryptocurrency that was supposed to be the next big thing in digital finance. However, as with many too-good-to-be-true opportunities, it didn’t take long for the cracks to show.

By March 2019, Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKIK) had issued warnings about FutureNet, suggesting that it might be a pyramid scheme. The company’s model involved selling “participation packages” that ranged in price from $10 to $10,000, with the promise of profits to those who could recruit others into the scheme. This classic pyramid structure soon caught the attention of authorities beyond Poland.

South Korean authorities began their investigation in mid-2020 after receiving complaints from 950 people who claimed to have lost millions of dollars in the scheme. The once-promising FuturoCoin quickly lost nearly all its value, leaving investors with little more than empty promises.

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The Global Manhunt

As the walls began to close in on Ziemian and Morgenstern, both men attempted to evade justice. Ziemian’s first brush with the law occurred in October 2022, when Italian authorities arrested him shortly after he had won an organised car race—trophy still in hand. Despite the arrest, Ziemian was placed under house arrest, from which he soon fled, slipping through the fingers of law enforcement.

Morgenstern, meanwhile, was arrested around the same time in Greece. Like Ziemian, he was released on house arrest, only to escape to Albania. His freedom was short-lived, however, as Albanian authorities arrested him in August 2023. He is now awaiting extradition to South Korea, where he, too, faces the possibility of a life sentence.

A Parallel to Terraform Labs’ Do Kwon

The arrest of Roman Ziemian in Montenegro has drawn comparisons to another high-profile case—Do Kwon, the co-founder of Terraform Labs. Kwon, who is also being held in Montenegro, faces similar allegations of crypto-related fraud and is awaiting extradition to South Korea. Both cases highlight the global nature of cryptocurrency crimes and the challenges that authorities face in bringing those responsible to justice.

Ziemian’s case, much like Kwon’s, serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with the cryptocurrency industry. While the technology itself holds immense potential, it is still a space rife with opportunities for fraud and exploitation. The arrests of Ziemian and Morgenstern may bring some comfort to those who lost money in the FutureNet scheme, but the damage has been done. The value of FuturoCoin has plummeted, and the victims are left to pick up the pieces.

The Final Word 

As Roman Ziemian’s arrest brings a close to one chapter, the cryptocurrency community is on the lookout for the broader implications of FutureNet’s trajectory. Nonetheless, the attention now turns to the forthcoming legal process that will determine Ziemian’s future. The outcome of his potential extradition to South Korea and the penalties he may face remain uncertain. However, one thing is evident: authorities are increasingly determined to hold accountable those who misuse the cryptocurrency space, regardless of the lengths they go to evade justice.