Jason Alexander plays George Costanza.
Maria McCarty | NBCU Photo Bank | NBCUniversal | getty images
Yadda, yada, yada, this cryptocurrency scammer isn’t smiling anymore.
A New York man took more than $1.3 million from friends, neighbors and investors by enticing them to invest in a fake real estate project involving a company named after a joke from the classic TV comedy “Seinfeld” and a virtual cryptocurrency from the federal government. I was scammed. Prosecutors said Friday.
From 2019 to 2022, Thomas John Sfraga, 55, “held himself out as the owner and president of several businesses, including Vandelay Contracting Corp. and Build Strong Homes LLC,” the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. Yes.
“The television show ‘Seinfeld’ falsely claimed that the character George (Costanza) had interviewed for a job at the fictional company Vandlay Industries,” the office said. In the episode, the ever-hapless Costanza claims he is looking for a position as a latex salesman.
Prosecutors said Sprague, who played cryptocurrency personality TJ Stone, described himself as a serial entrepreneur with experience in real estate development, media relations, podcasting and cryptocurrency.
Prosecutors said Sprague promised victims up to a 60% return on their investments within three months, but actually used the money for his own benefit “to pay expenses and pay off former victims and associates.”
Sfraga, who lives in Brooklyn, pleaded guilty Thursday in Brooklyn federal court to wire fraud, prosecutors said.
He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison along with being ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution.
