The investigation into the alleged Ponzi scheme in San Pedro took a significant turn this week with several raids carried out by the Federal Police. These procedures are carried out after RainbowEX be accused of illegally raising funds and operate under a fraudulent schemea fact that would affect 20,000 inhabitants of the town.
Luis Pardo and Lucas Liberatti, main suspects in the case, have already been charged with the crime of unauthorized financial intermediationwhile The crime of fraud is being investigated by prosecutor María Viviani. According to investigations, RainbowEX would have promised unattainable returns of up to 1% in daily dollarsattracting thousands of investors in the area through social networks and groups of Telegram.
Luis Pardo, 33, became a central figure within the scheme as one of the main promoters of the investments. At public events, such as a gala held at the Hotel Emperador in Buenos Aires, he received fictitious awards from hired actors, simulating international support for the company.
Pardo’s social networks, far from reflecting concern about the accusations, show images of him posing with awards and screenshots of news about the investigation in a defiant tone. In addition, it promoted alleged donations of toys and merchandise to children’s soup kitchens, using the logo of Knight Consortiumthe fictitious company associated with the scheme.
For its part, Lucas Liberatti is linked to the financial Over Cashlocated in the center of San Pedro, which was raided last week. According to indications, it functioned as a operational base for RainbowEX activities, allowing investors to withdraw or deposit their funds.
In fact, documents from the Official Gazette indicate that Liberatti appears as an important part of the board of directors of this entity, along with a group of women residing in the City of Buenos Aires.
How the scheme affected San Pedro
He prosecutor Matías Di Lelloleading the federal case, presented in its search request a alarming fact: it is estimated that More than 20% of the population of San Pedro was captured by the scheme. This platform, which does not have authorization from the National Securities Commission to operatewould have mobilized millions of pesos from small savers who trusted the promises of high returns.
The rapid expansion of the platform in the region led to even People with no prior investment experience will participate in the schemewhich increased the number of potential victims. The investigations continue and new charges or arrests are not ruled out as the expertise on the seized devices progresses.
One of the most controversial aspects of the research is the personal relationship of Luis Pardo with the current mayor of San Pedro, Cecilio Zalazar. According to reports, Pardo was the stepson of the communal chief, given that his mother had a relationship with the mayor and they had a son in common. Although Zalazar has not been directly linked to the Ponzi scheme, his relationship with one of the main suspects has generated a climate of discomfort in local politics.
Meanwhile, the judge Carlos Villafuerte Ruzowhich is supervising the case, has already authorized the closure of Knight Consortium websiteat the request of prosecutor Di Lello, to prevent access from Argentina. This measure was requested after the platform announced a mysterious cessation of payments for two weeks, which raised alarms among investors.
What’s next in the investigation
Although neither Pardo nor Liberatti have been arrested so far, the investigation is moving at an accelerated pace. The case could be expanded if suspicions that RainbowEX are confirmed operated at a regional level and not only in San Pedro. The first accusations of illegal financial intermediation have already been formalized, but the prosecutor’s office continues to analyze the possibility of adding massive fraud charges.
The case revealed the vulnerability of certain sectors to promises of extraordinary returns, and raises questions about the need for greater financial regulation in the country. Meanwhile, victims of the scheme await answers and the chance to recover their savings.
The RainbowEX Ponzi scheme is a painful reminder of the risks implied by the lack of control over unregulated financial platformsespecially in times of economic uncertainty.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
