Alleged Ontario crypto fraudster charged in intimate partner violence case

Aiden Pleterski, who has been dubbed the “crypto king” and is facing accusations of defrauding investors in Ontario of tens of millions of dollars, has now been arrested and is facing multiple charges related to intimate partner violence. According to CBC News, Pleterski, 26, was taken into custody by police in Newmarket, Ont., on Monday. The charge sheet filed in court reveals that he is facing seven new charges, including assault, forcible confinement, and uttering threats, all in connection with incidents involving a woman in Vaughan last week.

York Regional Police confirmed that Pleterski surrendered himself at a police station in Vaughan and was subsequently placed in custody. Const. James Dickson stated that limited information is being provided to protect the victim. The allegations outlined in the charge sheet include accusations of assaulting the woman twice, forcibly confining her twice within three days, unlawfully entering a condo in Vaughan to commit an indictable offense, and harassing the complainant to the point where she feared for her safety.

After his arrest, Pleterski was granted bail, with his parents pledging $7,500. As part of the conditions of his release, he is prohibited from having any contact with the complainant and must remain at his parents’ home in Whitby each night.

Public records indicate that Pleterski was previously arrested in Polk County, Florida, in June 2021 for an alleged case of domestic violence, although the charges of battery and false imprisonment were later dropped. In May of last year, Durham police charged him with fraud and money laundering, marking the largest fraud investigation in the region’s history.

Investors who gave Pleterski up to $40 million to invest in cryptocurrencies and foreign exchanges have been seeking to recover their funds following his bankruptcy. Police allege that Pleterski promised investors massive profits with no risk of losses on their initial investment. However, a bankruptcy trustee’s investigation revealed that he had only invested a small fraction of the funds while spending millions on personal luxuries such as private jets, vacations, luxury cars, and a lakefront mansion.

Pleterski has denied any wrongdoing in the fraud case, and his lawyer, Cosmo Galluzzo, has not yet responded to requests for comment. Both the assault and fraud cases are scheduled to return to court later this month. The allegations against Pleterski have not been proven in court, and the investigation into these charges continues.