Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that Gökçe Güven, founder and CEO of Kalder Inc., has been charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The indictment alleges that Güven misled investors about Kalder’s financial health, brand partnerships, and customer base to secure funding for her technology startup.
According to prosecutors, Güven presented false information to potential investors during a fundraising round in April 2024. She claimed that Kalder had numerous brands as clients and reported inflated revenue figures. Authorities state that some companies listed as partners were only involved in short-term pilot programs or had no agreement with Kalder at all. Additionally, it is alleged that Güven maintained two sets of financial records: one accurate set prepared by an outside accounting firm and another with exaggerated numbers shared with investors. Through these actions, she reportedly raised approximately $7 million from more than a dozen investors.
Güven is also accused of using similar falsehoods in her application for an O-1A visa after her student visa expired. Prosecutors allege she submitted forged letters of support from business executives without their knowledge or consent to obtain the visa reserved for individuals with extraordinary ability.
“As alleged, Gökçe Güven built her seed round on fake revenue, inflated brand partnerships, and fabricated documents, and then used the same lies to secure a visa reserved for extraordinary ability,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Beware of fraud masquerading as entrepreneurship. This Office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously pursue market participants who use fraud and deception to victimize investors.”
“Gökçe Güven allegedly exaggerated her company’s fiscal condition and partnerships to swindle more than seven million dollars from prospective investors before using these misrepresentations to unlawfully obtain a highly acclaimed visa to the United States,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Güven allegedly curated a façade of her business ingenuity to unlawfully reap financial and personal benefits. The FBI will continue to expose any manipulative tactics employed to advertise misleading investment opportunities at the cost of their related stakeholders.”
“This indictment displays the lengths that individuals will go through to defraud investors and the American public, and how they are ultimately caught to pay for their crimes,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “Investors placed their trust in this emerging fintech founder and CEO, only to be misled and scammed, as alleged. We commend the work and partnership of the FBI and the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force to put end to self-serving executives and their fraudulent schemes.”
The case is being handled by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. If convicted on all charges—securities fraud and wire fraud (each carrying up to 20 years), visa fraud (up to 10 years), and aggravated identity theft (a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence)—Güven could face significant prison time; however, sentencing decisions rest with the judge.
Jay Clayton acknowledged the efforts of both federal investigators—the FBI and USPIS—and thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance.
The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Nichols and Alexandra N. Rothman from the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.
All allegations described remain accusations unless proven otherwise in court.
