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Press Release

President Of Purported Intergovernmental Organization Indicted For Cryptocurrency Scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), today announced charges against ASA SAINT CLAIR for his participation in an investment scheme tied to a purported digital coin offering called IGOBIT.  SAINT CLAIR allegedly participated in a scheme to defraud victims into providing loans tied to the launch of IGOBIT by World Sports Alliance, a purported intergovernmental organization focused on promoting international development through sports, and falsely promised investors guaranteed returns and an ownership interest in IGOBIT.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, Asa Saint Clair used World Sports Alliance, a sham affiliate of the United Nations, as a vehicle to defraud lenders.  Saint Clair allegedly defrauded investors in IGOBIT, a digital currency he claimed WSA was developing, but which turned out to be the fraudulent bait with which to lure victim investors.  What’s real is the felony charge Saint Clair now faces.”

Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh said:  “Saint Claire allegedly touted his company as promoting the values of sports and peace for a better world, yet defrauded all those who invested in his sham company.  As alleged, Saint Claire used the money he earned through deceit to fund a lavish lifestyle for him and his family.  Through the HSI New York El Dorado Task Force and its strong partnerships, Saint Claire will face time for his actions, and it won’t be in the luxury or comfort he has grown accustomed to.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed late yesterday in Manhattan federal court[1] and the previously filed Complaint:

From 2017 through September 2019, SAINT CLAIR solicited investors for the launch of IGOBIT through promised investment returns and representations about World Sports Alliance’s development projects around the world.  World Sports Alliance did not in fact participate in any international development projects and SAINT CLAIR did not dedicate investor funds to IGOBIT.  Instead, SAINT CLAIR diverted those funds to other entities controlled by him and members of his family, as well as to pay his personal expenses, including dinners at Manhattan restaurants, airline tickets, and online shopping.

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SAINT CLAIR, 47, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of HSI on this investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kiersten A. Fletcher and Tara M. La Morte are in charge of the prosecution. 

 

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Contact

Jim Margolin, Nicholas Biase
(212) 637-2600

Updated November 6, 2019

Topic
Securities, Commodities, & Investment Fraud
Press Release Number: 19-364