A Fort Lauderdale financial advisor has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for orchestrating a decades-long international investment fraud scheme that defrauded investors of more than US$94 million.
Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, 64, received a 240-month sentence on Monday from U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra after previously pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.
“This was a $94 million international fraud built on lies and broken trust,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendant preyed on families, professionals, and faith-based institutions across our community and beyond. At 64 years old, he was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. That sentence reflects the real harm to victims and sends a clear message: sophisticated financial fraud will be exposed and punished in South Florida.”
“Greed was Jacobus’s greatest tool — paired with a computer and a phone, it fueled a scheme that stole millions and shattered lives,” added Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Florida Field Office. “IRS Special Agents will continue to work tirelessly to uncover financial fraud and deliver justice to victims.”
According to court records, Jacobus falsely portrayed himself as a seasoned financial advisor managing legitimate investment portfolios while misappropriating investor funds for personal use and to pay purported returns to earlier investors in classic Ponzi-scheme fashion.
After completing his education in engineering, Jacobus entered the finance sector in the early 1990s. Over the years, he solicited funds through entities under his control, including Kronus Financial Corporation and Finser International Corporation, promising investors access to secure investment products and high-yield returns.
Prosecutors said he instead forged account statements, falsified financial documents and diverted client funds to support a lavish personal lifestyle and unrelated business ventures. His scheme ran from about 2004 to 2023 and spanned multiple continents.
Jacobus victimised more than 150 investors whose combined investments exceeded US$90 million. Victims were located in South Florida, Venezuela and Spain and included lawyers, doctors, members of the Venezuelan Archdiocese, former employees and members of his own family.
More than 20 victims appeared in court for the sentencing hearing, with an additional 80 participating remotely.
