A 29-year-old self-described professional gambler allegedly ran a $10 million Ponzi scheme targeting over 400 investors; FBI offers $150,000 reward

A 29-year-old man accused of running a Ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded more than 400 investors has been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list. Imer Gomez is accused of raising approximately $10 million by promising investors high returns from stock market trading. According to the FBI, the funds were allegedly used to finance a lavish lifestyle and pay earlier investors, while clients received fake account statements showing fictitious gains. Gomez was charged with wire fraud after a federal grand jury indictment in July 2025. The SEC separately accused him of defrauding clients of approximately $9 million.How the alleged $10 million Ponzi scheme targeted more than 400 investorsAccording to the SEC’s complaint, Gomez began soliciting prospective clients in August 2021, offering investment advisory services through K&G Investment Solutions LLC. He later used Helios Venture Fund LLC, a company he controlled, to solicit further investments. The SEC described Gomez as a self-identified professional gambler with no known experience investing or managing money on behalf of clients.The SEC alleged that Gomez presented himself as an experienced securities trader who could generate monthly double-digit returns by trading securities for clients. He also allegedly told prospective investors that their accounts were insured for up to 75 per cent of their value in certain circumstances. The complaint stated that Gomez obtained approximately $9 million in client deposits during the period from August 2021 to September 2023.The SEC alleged that neither K&G nor Helios operated as an investment fund, despite the latter company’s name. Instead, the companies were presented as investment advisers that would manage individual client portfolios. Under the agreements signed by investors, the companies claimed they would actively trade selected exchange-traded funds and individual stocks on clients’ behalf.Fake account statements in the alleged $10 million Ponzi schemeThe SEC’s complaint alleged that the promised investment services were never provided. According to the regulator, Gomez and the companies did not use clients’ money to trade securities, create individual investment accounts or obtain the insurance coverage they had promised. Instead, funds were allegedly placed in bank accounts controlled by Gomez and mixed together.To persuade investors that their money was growing, Gomez allegedly sent them account statements showing increasing balances and fictitious gains. The SEC said these statements did not identify actual transactions and instead listed values that Gomez had artificially increased. According to the complaint, some investors were persuaded by the statements to send additional money for investment.The SEC alleged that the money was used for personal expenses, unrelated business ventures and payments to earlier investors. The regulator said Gomez used the majority of the approximately $9 million received from clients for these purposes, as well as for payments to third parties, employees, referral commissions and cash withdrawals. No client funds were transferred to a trading platform.SEC alleges $666,000 went to Gomez’s associatesThe SEC also alleged that Gomez transferred approximately $666,000 in commingled client funds to Eric Claxton and Heather Claxton. Eric Claxton was identified in the complaint as the father of Gomez’s former girlfriend. The SEC said the money was received between 2022 and 2023, with some payments described as loans.According to the complaint, Eric Claxton initially deposited $100,000 with Helios in March and April 2022 and received that money back by June 2022. He subsequently received approximately $196,000 from Helios and Gomez between June 2022 and March 2023, while the couple jointly received a further approximately $370,000 between June and August 2023. The SEC alleged that these payments came from commingled client funds and that the Claxtons had not repaid amounts purportedly loaned to them or provided services or other value in exchange.The SEC’s complaint also described how Gomez allegedly attempted to reassure investors after the money ran out. In a letter sent on September 19, 2023, Gomez said Helios had been affected by a “sudden and unrecoverable liquidation”. He did not identify the reasons for the alleged event, citing a strict non-disclosure agreement. The SEC alleged that the supposed liquidation was actually the point at which Gomez ran out of money from new clients to continue the scheme.FBI investigates Gomez on wire fraud chargeThe FBI said Gomez was indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas on July 16, 2025, and that the indictment had recently been unsealed. The agency said he was believed to be avoiding prosecution in Mexico. The FBI’s October 2026 announcement concerns the criminal wire fraud charge, while the SEC’s earlier case involved alleged violations of federal securities laws.The SEC filed its civil complaint on July 14, 2025, in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas. It accused Gomez and Helios of violating provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The regulator sought permanent injunctions, the return of alleged ill-gotten gains with interest, and a civil penalty against Gomez. It also sought the return of funds received by Eric and Heather Claxton.FBI offers $150,000 reward for information on GomezThe FBI said its Most Wanted Fraudsters list was launched in June 2026 to encourage public assistance in locating fugitives wanted in major fraud cases. The agency announced that a reward of up to $150,000 was available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person on the list.Anyone with information about Gomez’s case is urged to contact the FBI’s toll-free tipline. The FBI said individuals' information may remain anonymous. The allegations in the SEC complaint and the FBI’s announcement concern separate legal proceedings. The SEC’s claims are allegations set out in a civil complaint, while the FBI’s announcement states that Gomez has been charged with wire fraud. The allegations should not be presented as a finding of guilt.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.