Federal authorities have arrested Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, 64, from Fort Lauderdale on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The charges are linked to a scheme that defrauded international investors, primarily Venezuelan nationals, of more than $94 million.
An indictment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida alleges that Jacobus falsely presented himself as a seasoned financial advisor managing legitimate investment portfolios. Instead, he allegedly misappropriated investor funds for personal use and to pay returns to earlier investors in a Ponzi scheme.
Between 2019 and 2023, Jacobus is accused of soliciting funds through entities under his control, including Kronus Financial Corporation and Finser International. He promised access to secure investment products and high-yield returns. Federal prosecutors claim Jacobus forged account statements, falsified documentation, and diverted client funds for luxury personal expenditures and unrelated business ventures.
Jacobus was taken into custody by federal agents without incident in Fort Lauderdale and made his initial appearance in federal court. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and money laundering, along with asset forfeiture and restitution.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, announced the arrest.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore.
Further details about this press release can be found on the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida's website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
Court documents related to this case can be accessed on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-20309.
