Former Rugby Player Sentenced for $900K Crypto Mining Ponzi Scheme

Shane Donovan Moore, a 37-year-old former semi-professional rugby player, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for orchestrating a $900,000 cryptocurrency mining Ponzi scheme. Operating under Quantum Donovan LLC between January 2021 and October 2022, Moore lured over 40 investors with promises of 1% daily returns from nonexistent mining operations.

Acting U.S. Attorney Miller noted Moore exploited cryptocurrency's novelty to perpetrate a classic fraud. Victims—many drawn from his rugby network—faced significant financial and emotional harm as funds were diverted to sustain the scheme and finance Moore's luxury purchases.

U.S. District Judge Tana Lin emphasized the psychological toll on investors. The case underscores persistent risks of investment fraud masquerading as crypto opportunities, despite increasing regulatory scrutiny.