Tennessee Couple Ordered to Pay $6.8 Million in Crypto Fraud Case

Michael and Amanda Griffis, a Tennessee couple, have been hit with a $6.8 million penalty after pleading guilty to defrauding 145 investors through their "Blessings of God Thru Crypto" scheme. The fraudulent operation, which ran from 2021 to 2023, promised high returns via crypto futures trading but instead siphoned over $4 million through a fake overseas exchange.

The couple Leveraged their real estate connections to lure victims, using a counterfeit platform designed to mimic the legitimate Apex trading system. A mysterious figure known as "Coach Wendy" played a role in the scam, though their identity remains undisclosed. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) charged the Griffises in July 2023, culminating in this week's court order.

Investors lost $6.5 million collectively, with funds vanishing into an unregulated exchange. The case underscores the risks of unverified crypto ventures, particularly those exploiting trust within personal or professional networks.