A Fort Lauderdale investment advisor has been arrested and charged in connection with a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors — primarily from Venezuela — of more than $94 million, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, 64, was taken into custody by federal agents without incident and has made his initial court appearance. He faces charges of wire fraud and money laundering, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
According to a federal indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Florida, Jacobus falsely presented himself as an experienced financial advisor managing legitimate investment portfolios. Prosecutors say he instead used client funds to finance his personal lifestyle and to pay off earlier investors in a classic Ponzi scheme.
Between 2019 and 2023, Jacobus allegedly solicited funds through firms he controlled, including Kronus Financial Corporation and Finser International. He is accused of luring investors with promises of high returns and secure investments, while secretly creating forged account statements and falsified documents to hide the misuse of funds. Authorities say investor money was funneled into luxury purchases and unrelated ventures.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne and Emmanuel Gomez, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Miami Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore is leading the prosecution. If convicted, Jacobus could also face asset forfeiture and be ordered to pay restitution to victims.
