U.S. Department
of Justice
Bitclub
19CR877
United States vs. Matthew Brent Goettsche et.al., 19-CR-877-CCC
Defendants:
- Matthew Brent Goettsche
- Russ Albert Medlin
- Jobadiah Sinclair Weeks
- Joseph Frank Abel
- Silviu Catalin Balaci
Case Summary:
Defendants Goettsche, Balaci, and Weeks have been charged with conspiracy to engage in wire fraud in connection with their roles in BitClub Network. From April 2014 through December 2019, BitClub Network was a fraudulent scheme that solicited money from investors in exchange for shares of purported cryptocurrency mining pools and rewarded investors for recruiting new investors into the scheme. Goettsche, Balaci, Weeks, and others conspired together to solicit investment in BitClub Network through fraudulent means, including by providing false and misleading figures that BitClub investors were told were “bitcoin mining earnings” purportedly generated by BitClub Network’s bitcoin mining pool. Goettsche, Balaci, Weeks, and others obtained the equivalent of at least $722 million from BitClub Network investors.
Defendants Goettsche, Balaci, Weeks, and Abel also conspired to sell BitClub Network shares—which were securities—notwithstanding that BitClub Network did not register the shares with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Weeks and Abel created videos and traveled around the United States and the world to promote BitClub Network and recruit others to invest.
Questionnaire:
If you believe you may have been a victim of this fraud scheme, please complete and email this Questionnaire to bitclub2019@fbi.gov
Court Dates:
Status conference scheduled for July 16, 2020 at 2:00 pm
|
Defendant |
Custody status |
Court dates |
|
Goettsche |
Release on bail on 12/11/2020 |
12/3/2020 Detention Appeal Hearing |
|
Abel |
Released on bond |
9/3/2020 Guilty Plea Hearing 9/22/2021 9:30 am Sentencing Hearing |
|
Weeks |
Released on bond |
11/5/2020 Guilty Plea Hearing 9/14/2021 9:30 am Sentencing Hearing |
|
Balaci |
Released on bond |
7/8/2020 Initial Appearance 7/9/2020 Guilty Plea Hearing 9/20/2021 9:30 am Sentencing Hearing |
| Medlin | Detained pending extradition proceedings | TBD |
| Beckstead | Released on bond |
3/24/2022 Guilty Plea Hearing 8/9/2022 9:30 am Sentencing Hearing |
Indictment: On December 5, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a two count Indictment.
Resources:
District of New Jersey Victim-Witness Program Information: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/victim-witness
Justice Department Large Case information: https://www.justice.gov/largecases
Press Releases:
December 10, 2019 Press Release
July 9, 2020 Balaci Press Release
Sept 3, 2020 Abel Press Release
November 5, 2020 Weeks Press Release
March 24, 2022 Beckstead Press Release
Court Documents:
Information and Plea Agreement – Weeks
Information and Plea Agreement – Beckstead
Other Information:
All case updates will be posted on this website.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.