FBI Hunt Intensifies for Fugitive CryptoTycoon Who Fled Bail in 150 Million Dollar Scam

The search for Horst Jicha, the elusive 64-year-old German CEO behind the notorious cryptocurrency platform USI Tech, is intensifying after the fugitive tampered with his ankle monitor and vanished while out on bail.

Federal prosecutors are sparing no effort as they hunt down Jicha, whose arrest in late 2023 had promised a breakthrough in the investigation into a massive $150 million crypto fraud case. But now, his disappearance has thrown a wrench into the case, and authorities are growing increasingly desperate.

Jicha, along with a network of accomplices, is accused of masterminding an audacious multilevel marketing scam camouflaged as a crypto-investment opportunity.

USI Tech lured thousands of U.S. investors, promising a suspiciously high return of 1% daily. But prosecutors argue the platform’s too-good-to-be-true claims were nothing more than a sophisticated con. After regulators in the U.S. and Canada issued cease-and-desist orders in 2018, USI Tech shut down—yet the damage was done.

Instead of returning investor funds, Jicha allegedly funneled a staggering $150 million into offshore accounts under his personal control.

Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, didn’t mince words in condemning Jicha’s actions. “In the early days of crypto, the defendant preyed on U.S. investors hungry for quick returns,” Peace said. “Though he evaded justice for years, we’ve worked tirelessly with the FBI to ensure he faces the consequences of his crimes.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith echoed this sentiment, warning that financial fraudsters like Jicha would be tracked down no matter how long it takes. “Jicha’s platform looked legitimate, offering a simple route to crypto wealth, but it was a house of cards that collapsed, leaving investors with nothing,” Smith said. “Our commitment to bringing fraudsters to justice is unwavering.”

The platform, which appeared to offer an easy entry into the world of cryptocurrency, was abruptly shut down in 2018. Investors who once thought they were making sound investments were left stranded, unable to access their funds. Prosecutors allege that much of the $150 million in missing cryptocurrency was diverted to addresses controlled by Jicha, who had already been using the scheme to line his own pockets.

Jicha’s sudden disappearance on October 3, 2024, following his release on bail, has left authorities scrambling. The trial, originally set for March 2025, now faces delays as investigators search for the fugitive CEO.

But Jicha isn’t the only one causing a stir. In a chilling twist, two key figures in the USI Tech scandal—Ralf Gold and Mike Mike Kiefer—have been reported dead under mysterious circumstances.

Ralf Gold, 59, and fellow German citizen, was allegedly found murdered in a sleepy Brazilian town. His lifeless body was said to have been discovered on June 18, 2024, at the Clube do Tiro, a shooting club in Valença, Rio de Janeiro.

The scene, described as surreal, included a stockpile of firearms, bank cards, cash, and a luxury watch. Speculation is rife as to whether Gold’s death was a murder orchestrated by those he swindled—or if it was part of a more sinister plot to disappear and escape justice.

The report of Gold’s death, however, is shrouded in uncertainty. Radio Acesa, the local station that first broke the story, noted that the case was still under investigation. Yet, there’s growing suspicion that this could be a hoax.

Was Gold murdered for his role in the USI Tech scam—or has he staged his death to avoid capture?

The truth remains elusive.

Adding fuel to the fire, authorities are now investigating whether another key suspect, Michael Tomas Keifer, AKA Mike Kiefer, a Swiss national and alleged co-founded USI Tech with Jicha, is also staging his own death.

Kiefer, whose online obituary surfaced in August 2024, is believed to have faked his death while under investigation. Despite reports from a local blog, no official records or news reports confirm his death in Thailand.

Was this an act of desperation to flee from the law—or was Kiefer really silenced?

Investigators are now focused on the ominous connections between Jicha, Kiefer, and the allegedly now-deceased Gold. The U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation suggests that Kiefer was a key co-conspirator in the scam, and some experts believe that the missing figures might all be involved in a large-scale cover-up.

With Jicha on the run and more questions than answers, the hunt for justice continues. The USI Tech scandal is far from over, and authorities are determined to unearth the truth, no matter where it leads.

Do You Have Information on Horst Jicha, Ralf Gold, or Michael Tomas Kiefer? If so, Naked Fraud wants to hear from you!

Our dedicated team is on the hunt to track down these three notorious fraudsters, and we need your help! We’re working tirelessly to uncover their whereabouts, expose their lifestyles, and offer you an exclusive, front-row view of their eventual arrests.

Stay tuned—this drama is just beginning!