Sam Mendez
Co-founder of Bitqyck (Bitqy / BitqyM tokens). He settled SEC fraud charges in 2019 and was sentenced in 2022 to 50 months in prison for tax evasion tied to misappropriated investor funds.
Also known as: Samuel Mendez, Sam Mendez
Bio
Samuel "Sam" Mendez co-founded Bitqyck with Bruce Bise; together they owned 100% of the company's stock. The SEC said the pair sold the Bitqy and BitqyM tokens via false claims (fractional stock and a nonexistent mining facility) to 13,000+ investors. [1][2]
Legal outcome
Mendez settled the SEC's fraud charges in 2019 (paying $850,022) and later pleaded guilty to tax evasion over funds diverted from Bitqyck for personal use; he was sentenced in March 2022 to 50 months in prison and ~$1.6M owed. [1][2]
Bracketed numbers refer to the numbered sources listed below.
Linked scams & cases
Sources (2)
See also
- Bitcoin Latinum (LTNM)TokensA ~$16M token offering (SAFTs for 'Bitcoin Latinum' / LTNM) that the SEC charged in 2026 as fraud: founder Donald Basile falsely called LTNM 'the world's first insured digital asset' backed by an 'existing trust,' neither of which existed, and diverted investor funds for personal use (including a $160,000 horse).
- Loci (LOCIcoin)TokensA 2017–2018 ICO for 'LOCIcoin' tied to the InnVenn IP-search platform. The SEC charged Loci and CEO John Wise with fraud for raising $7.6M on false claims about revenue, headcount, and user base; Wise also misused investor funds. Settled with a $7.6M penalty and an officer/director bar.
- Blockchain Terminal (BCT)Tokens
This page was last updated on Jun 8, 2026. View revision history.