A New York man was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for impersonating cryptocurrency influencers and stealing at least $1.4 million from investors.
Noman Saleem, 39, of Queens and Levittown, created Telegram accounts mimicking two popular crypto figures, attracting thousands of followers. He charged $500 to $600 for access to a VIP channel, where he pitched fake staking opportunities with guaranteed returns.
Rather than staking the funds, Saleem simply kept them. The FBI's Baltimore field office investigated; after his guilty plea, prosecutors recovered much of the stolen crypto and cash.
U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow handed down the sentence, followed by three years of supervised release.