Orlando-area crypto firm Goliath Ventures faces proposed class action after CEO’s federal Ponzi-scheme arrest

Criminal case and investor litigation unfold in parallel

A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed in federal court over losses tied to Goliath Ventures, a Central Florida-based cryptocurrency investment operation whose chief executive was arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging a large-scale Ponzi scheme.

On February 24, 2026, federal prosecutors announced the arrest of Christopher Alexander Delgado, 34, of Apopka, identifying him as the president and chief executive officer of Goliath Ventures, formerly known as Gen-Z Venture Firm. The criminal complaint accuses Delgado of wire fraud and money laundering tied to an alleged scheme that prosecutors say operated from January 2023 through January 2026 and raised at least $328 million from investors.

How the alleged scheme was marketed

Federal allegations describe an investment program promoted as generating monthly returns through cryptocurrency “liquidity pools.” Prosecutors say investors were solicited through personal referrals, marketing materials, luxury events, charitable sponsorships, and periodic payments presented as returns.

The criminal complaint alleges that, despite representations about deploying funds into liquidity pools, investor money was primarily used to pay purported returns to earlier participants, return principal to some investors who requested withdrawals, and fund high-cost gatherings and travel. Prosecutors also allege Delgado purchased four residential properties valued between $1.15 million and $8.5 million using investor funds.

Proposed class action targets alleged enabling conduct

On March 5, 2026, investors filed a proposed class action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The suit describes the alleged fraud as a “joint venture” structure used to solicit investor capital, and it seeks class certification on behalf of similarly situated investors.

Unlike the criminal case, which focuses on alleged conduct by the company and its leadership, the civil class action aims to establish liability for parties accused of playing a role in structuring or validating the investment framework used across the investor base. The complaint alleges that legal work and documentation connected to the joint venture arrangement were central to how investor funds were solicited and processed.

• The federal criminal complaint is an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt.
• The proposed class action is at an early stage; class certification is not automatic and must be approved by the court.
• Criminal prosecution and civil recovery efforts often proceed on different timelines, with separate standards of proof.

Investor exit disputes described in filings

Details in court filings describe investor concerns escalating in late 2025, when payments were allegedly delayed and attributed to audits, banking issues, and compliance matters. The criminal complaint also recounts investor requests to exit the program in early January 2026 and communications about expected repayment amounts.

Under federal law, defendants in criminal cases are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

What happens next

The criminal case is expected to move through federal court proceedings that may include detention hearings, charging decisions, and potential indictment. The civil case will proceed through motions practice, including disputes over class certification and the sufficiency of claims. For investors, the outcomes may shape the prospects for restitution, asset recovery, and civil damages, depending on what courts determine about the alleged conduct and available assets.