Faruk Fatih Özer
Founder and CEO of the Turkish exchange Thodex, which halted withdrawals in April 2021 as he fled abroad. Sentenced in 2023 to 11,196 years; reported to have died in prison in November 2025.
Also known as: Faruk Fatih Ozer
Bio
Faruk Fatih Özer founded and led the Turkish cryptocurrency exchange Thodex, one of the country's largest before it abruptly stopped withdrawals in April 2021 and Özer left the country. [1][2]
Legal outcome
He was arrested in Albania, extradited, and in September 2023 sentenced — with two siblings — to 11,196 years in prison for fraud, money laundering, and leading a criminal organization. [1][2] He was reported to have been found dead in his prison cell in November 2025. [3]
Bracketed numbers refer to the numbered sources listed below.
Linked scams & cases
Sources (3)
See also
- Donald BasileIndividualsFounder behind Bitcoin Latinum (LTNM). The SEC charged him in 2026 with defrauding investors of ~$16M by falsely claiming the token was insured and asset-backed, and misappropriating funds for personal use (including a $160,000 horse).
- Kristoffer KrohnIndividualsA promoter (and SEC recidivist) who sold Green United's 'Green Boxes,' allegedly acting as an unregistered broker and misrepresenting GREEN's value and returns. Charged by the SEC for fraud and registration violations.
- John WiseIndividualsFounder and CEO of Loci, which ran the LOCIcoin ICO. The SEC charged him with fraud for false claims about Loci's revenue, staff, and user base (raising $7.6M) and for misusing $38K of investor funds; he settled with an officer/director bar.
This page was last updated on Jun 8, 2026. View revision history.