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Date: July 18, 2025
Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov
MIAMI — Federal authorities have arrested Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, of Fort Lauderdale, on charges of wire fraud and money laundering stemming from a years-long scheme that defrauded international investors — primarily Venezuelan nationals — of more than $94 million.
According to an indictment in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Jacobus falsely portrayed himself as a seasoned financial advisor managing legitimate investment portfolios, while instead misappropriating investor funds for personal use and to pay returns to earlier investors — in classic Ponzi fashion.
Between 2019 and 2023, Jacobus allegedly solicited funds through entities under his control, including Kronus Financial Corporation, and Finser International, promising access to secure investment products and high-yield returns. Federal prosecutors allege Jacobus forged account statements, falsified documentation, and diverted client funds to luxury personal expenditures and unrelated business ventures.
Jacobus was taken into custody by federal agents without incident in Fort Lauderdale. He made his initial appearance in federal court. If convicted, Jacobus faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and money laundering, in addition to forfeiture of assets and restitution.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore.
IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.