An Israeli national allegedly involved in a sprawling binary options fraud scheme worth approximately $148 million has been extradited to the United States.
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Oron Montgomery, 43, along with five other individuals, faces charges in connection with a widespread investigation centered around Yukom Communications, a host of trading platforms targeting U.S. investors with false promises of high profits.
The announcement of Montgomery's extradition was made by the international division of the Israeli Prosecutor's Office, shedding light on a complex web of deceit that spanned three years.
The indictment alleges that Montgomery and his associates orchestrated Internet platforms masquerading as legitimate trading platforms for foreign exchange options, stocks and commodities. These platforms, including BigOption.com and BinaryBook.com, purportedly targeted U.S. investors, employing deceptive tactics to lure them into fraudulent schemes.
Operating call centers in Caesarea and Tel Aviv, the defendants allegedly used false identities and misleading presentations to entice investors with promises of high profits and returns.
Despite these assurances, the funds entrusted to them were never invested as claimed. The indictment suggests that the company's phone system further facilitated the deception, perpetuating false narratives about lucrative investment opportunities.
Montgomery's extradition underscores the international scope of the investigation, which has seen cooperation between law enforcement agencies across borders. The unsealed indictment paints a damning picture of deliberate manipulation and misrepresentation, alleging that the defendants knowingly deceived investors for personal gain. The charges against Montgomery and his co-conspirators include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, underscoring the severity of their alleged offenses.
The United States Justice Department has expanded its legal action against 21 Israeli individuals, among them Yakov Cohen, Yosef Herzog, Ori Maymon, Nissim Alfasi, Elad Bigelman, Runal Jeebun, Sabrina Elofer, Afik Tori, Anog Maarek, David Barzilay, Gilad Mazugi, Hadas Ben Haim, Yousef Bishara and Nir Erez. Notably, all accused individuals, either current or former residents of Israel, face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud.
The last unsealed indictment identifies Yakov Cohen from Mauritius and Yossi Herzog from Israel as owners of the binary options organization encompassing Yukom Communications and its associated websites, BigOption.com and BinaryBook.com.
Additionally, it delineates managerial roles held by Ori Maymon, Nissim Alfasi, Elad Bigelman and Runal Singh Jeebun, while highlighting the responsibilities of retention agents, including Anog Maarek and others, who allegedly coerced investors into further investments after their initial deposits.
Ronen Roytman, though not listed as a defendant, is implicated as a co-conspirator in the indictment for his role as the office manager at the Numaris call center in Tel Aviv.