American BTC Academy Founder Brian Sewell Sentenced To Three Years Over $2.9M Crypto Fraud
, 54, from Washington County, Utah, was sentenced to 36 months in jail later than admitting to wire fraud. On January 15, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah announced the decision. It also includes three years of supervised release and a $3.8 million payout to victims.
Prosecutors stated that the schemes, which operated simultaneously, involved cheating investors and running unregistered cryptocurrency businesses.
Fraud Scheme for Investors
From December 2017 to April 2024, Sewell took more than $2.9 million from at least 17 investors by lying about his credentials, experience, and potential to make large returns.
He ran an online course called the American BTC Academy and promised students a hedge fund that would use artificial intelligence and , but these technologies never materialized. Instead, he kept his money in BTC, which was eventually stolen in a wallet breach, resulting in significant losses for investors.
Money Transmission Without a License
Sewell operated Rockwell Capital Management as an unauthorised money transmitting firm from March to September 2020, converting more than $5.4 million in cash into cryptocurrencies for others, some of whom were criminals involved in drug trafficking and fraud.
Authorities said this violated federal rules meant to prevent the transportation of illegal funds. The organisation charged fees for transactions that didn’t require registration.
Responses From the Government
Robert Bohls, the FBI Special Agent in Charge, said, “Sewell preyed on his victims by lying about his experience and promising returns he couldn’t deliver, leaving individuals and families to deal with the consequences of his lies.”
Prosecutors stressed that the schemes took advantage of people’s faith in the crypto industry, which shows that regulators are still watching closely. This case shows how the federal government is trying to stop because of growing concerns about fraud.
In February 2024, the SEC accused Sewell and Rockwell Capital Management. They settled without admitting wrongdoing and paid $1.6 million in disgorgement and interest, as well as a $223,229 civil penalty. later than a federal grand jury charged him, he was apprehended in Salt Lake City.
The sentence fits with what the has been doing lately, such as giving prison time to the founders of Samourai Wallet. This shows that they are cracking down harder on offences related to cryptocurrency.
