In brief – New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking about $1.37 billion from NovaTech founders Cynthia and Eddy Petion, who fled the U.S. before an August 2025 default judgment. – Four top promoters agreed to pay nearly $6 million to benefit victims and are permanently…
nned from the securities, commodities and crypto industries. – The scheme targeted Haitian communities through prayer groups and WhatsApp, and drew more than 11,000 New York investors. New York Attorney General Letitia James wants the founders of collapsed crypto trading platform NovaTech to pay nearly $1.4 billion
Collecting it may be another matter: The couple has fled the country, according to James. In a filing in New York County Supreme Court on Thursday, James’ office asked a judge to order Cynthia and Eddy Petion, NovaTech and related companies to pay about $1.37 billion in damages, disgorgement, and interest. The request follows an August 2025 default judgment issued after the Petions fled the U.S. and failed to respond to the state’s lawsuit.
That judgment also banned them from the securities, commodities and crypto industries. James also announced settlements totaling nearly $6 million with four of the scheme’s top promoters: Martin Zizi, Frantz Ciceron, Ricardo Roy Sr,. and James Corbett. They’ll pay the money to benefit victims and are permanently barred from those industries.