'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski found guilty of fraud at Toronto jury trial | Hanomansing Live

Self-described crypto king Aiden Piotrski has been found guilty of fraud. A CBC Toronto investigation was first to report on Piotrski more than four years ago when his investors were trying to recoup millions of dollars they'd invested with him. Sarah McMillan has more. The jury deliberated for less than an hour and a half before coming back with their verdict. They found Aiden Ploturski guilty of fraud over $5,000. He was initially also charged with money laundering, but the Crown dropped that charge earlier this week. Over the course of the trial, the jury heard that Blitursky took more than $36 million from investors with promises of investing in cryptocurrency and foreign exchanges. But he never put any of that money into the trading platform listed on their contracts. Instead, giving nearly half of it back to investors as supposed returns, and spending more than $16 million on himself, including racking up credit card bills, spending hundreds of thousands on travel, and more than $5 million on cars. In closing arguments, the Crown prosecutor called him a thief. Ploturski was self-represented and didn't put forward any evidence in his defense or testify. He also only cross-examined one of the Crown's witnesses. He did give a a brief closing statement where he told the jury he was innocent. Ploturski requested a mistrial, arguing he didn't have a fair trial without a lawyer, but that was denied earlier this week. The judge said Ploturski had ample notice that the trial would go ahead whether he had a lawyer or not, and said his lack of participation in the trial was a choice and a tactical decision by Ploturski, noting Ploturski did not take notes or take advantage of the judge's offer to assist with cross-examination. Ploturski will be under house arrest while he awaits his sentencing with his parents acting as his sureties. He's set to be back in court in two weeks to schedule his sentencing dates. Sarah McMillan, CBC News, Toronto.