Rugby Star’s Crypto Scam: 2.5 Years in Prison for Ponzi Plot 😱💸

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A former semi-professional rugby player from Seattle, Shane Donovan Moore, 37, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison for orchestrating a cryptocurrency mining scheme so absurd, it makes a goldfish’s retirement plan look like a masterclass in fiscal responsibility.

Moore, a man who once tackled a rugby ball with the ferocity of a man who had never heard of a spreadsheet, was convicted of wire fraud involving more than 40 investors across multiple US states. He convinced them to hand over over $900,000 under false pretenses, which is basically the financial equivalent of trading your firstborn for a promise of free pizza.

Prosecutors Detail Scheme and Financial Misuse

According to the US Department of Justice, Moore operated a company called Quantum Donovan LLC between January 2021 and October 2022. He told investors their funds would be used to buy cryptocurrency mining equipment and promised them a 1% daily return. Which, if you think about it, is like saying you’ll grow a garden by planting seeds in a sandcastle.

No mining equipment was ever purchased. Instead, Moore used the money for personal expenses, including luxury travel, clothing, electronics, and apartment deposits. Because nothing says “financial stability” like buying a new iPhone with other people’s money.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Tana Lin emphasized the psychological and emotional toll on Moore’s victims. Many were individuals Moore met through his rugby connections—because nothing says “trust” like a man who once ran with a pack of wolves (metaphorically, of course).

Assistant US Attorney Brian Wynne noted that Moore used investor funds to finance his lavish lifestyle. This included things like “luxury travel,” which is just code for “I flew first class to Bali and then blamed the airline for my bad decisions.”

The scheme worked by using money from newer investors to send returns to earlier ones, creating the illusion of a functioning mining business. To reinforce the scheme’s credibility, Moore occasionally sent cryptocurrency to some investors. Which is like throwing a few confetti cannons at a parade and calling it a fireworks show.

Prosecutors say this was meant to convince victims the mining operation was real. However, none of the funds were ever allocated to mining hardware or infrastructure. Because nothing says “investment” like a man who spends your money on a new Tesla and then tells you it’s for “research.”

The Justice Department highlighted that Moore’s actions led to substantial financial losses. While over $900,000 was collected in total, victims were left with a combined loss of more than $387,000. Because Moore was a master of the art of “partial refunds” and “creative accounting.”

DOJ and FBI Urge Caution Amid Crypto Fraud Risks

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the probe into Moore’s activities, with the case prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Brian Wynne and Casey Conzatti. Because nothing says “justice” like a team of lawyers who are basically just really good at paperwork.

Acting US Attorney Teal Luthy Miller noted that Moore capitalized on the emerging popularity of cryptocurrency to commit a familiar form of fraud. “He used the newness of cryptocurrency to commit an age-old fraud—a Ponzi scheme,” Miller said. Which is like saying, “I used a new app to steal your data, but it’s just the same old phishing scam.”

Moore’s sentencing reflects a broader push by US authorities to crack down on fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes. According to the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report, crypto-related fraud has surged in recent years, particularly scams promising high-yield returns through mining or staking. Because nothing says “investment opportunity” like a man who promises you’ll become a millionaire in a week—by mining Bitcoin with a toaster.

Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

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2025-07-19 07:14