Montenegro Arrests FutureNet Executive for Alleged $21M Crypto Fraud

Authorities in Montenegro have arrested Roman Ziemian, the co-founder of the digital trading platform FutureNet, which is suspected to have stolen about $21 million in a detailed crypto fraud scheme. 

The arrest warrant was issued by South Korea and Ziemian’s native land Poland, who revealed that he is one of the most wanted persons by both countries. 

Details of the Alleged $21M Crypto Fraud 

The authorities stated that he is suspected of criminal offenses in the economic crime field, including large-scale fraud, money laundering, theft, and violations of the law. 

“RKZ is one of the founders and owners of the “Future net” fund, whose activity is trading in digital and crypto-currencies, and he is suspected of having, together with his partner SM, damaged a large number of people from the territory of Poland and South Korea, causing damage in the total amount of about 21 million US dollars”, the report said. 

Furthermore, details shared by the Police Directorate stated that Ziemian was found using a false identity and living in the country’s capital Podgorica. 

The authorities also revealed that they found and seized technical devices and items it suspects Ziemian used for his alleged crimes. He faces the possibility of life imprisonment in South Korea and is set to appear before a judge in Podgorica’s High Court to determine his extradition.

The Ordeal of Futurenet Co-founders

Ziemian co-founded FutureNet with Stephan Morgenstern in 2018. The now-defunct website was pitched as a multilevel marketing business with an adjacent crypto token, FuturoCoin (FTO), which has since lost nearly all its value, according to data from CoinGecko.

In March 2019, Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKIK) warned that FutureNet could be a pyramid scheme. The office even stated that the firm was selling packages starting from $10 to $10,000 with the promise of profits for bringing in other investors.

Additionally, South Korean authorities began investigating the platform after 950 people claimed they had lost millions investing in FutureNet. 

Ziemian was arrested in the Republic of Italy in 2022, where he escaped from house arrest. Meanwhile, his partner was imprisoned in Greece, and later in the Republic of Albania.