**Yes – on *October 28, 2025*, a *Georgia investor* filed a federal RICO lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (Dallas Division), alleging he was victimized in a $3.7 million “pig-butchering” crypto scam orchestrated by a network of U.S.-based companies providing tech infrastructure to overseas fraudsters.
Case Snapshot: [Plaintiff v. Defendants] (Case No. TBD)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff | Georgia resident/investor (name not publicly disclosed in reports; represented by Houston-based attorneys). |
| Defendants | Network of Texas/Delaware companies (e.g., fake trading platform operators, script providers); exact names in complaint: TBD (likely tech facilitators like domain registrars, hosting services). |
| Claims | RICO (18 U.S.C. §1962): Racketeering enterprise via wire fraud, money laundering; aiding/abetting pig-butchering ops; unjust enrichment. |
| Damages Sought | $3.7M+ treble damages (~$11M under RICO) + injunctions to seize domains/assets; class action potential. |
| Filed In | N.D. Tex. (Dallas) – Venue tied to defendants’ ops/links to scam wallets. |
The “Pig-Butchering” Scam Breakdown
- Hook: Scammer poses as romantic interest/attractive trader on dating apps/social media → Builds trust over months (chats, “small wins”).
- Fatten: Directs victim to fake crypto platform (e.g., bogus app showing skyrocketing “profits” – early withdrawals to hook).
- Butcher: Victim wires $3.7M in BTC/USDT → Platform freezes; scammer ghosts; funds laundered via defendants’ tools (VPNs, scripts, U.S. servers).
- Classic MO: Southeast Asia syndicates (e.g., Cambodia compounds) using trafficked workers.
**”These companies *knowingly enabled* the fraud… profiting from misery.”** – Plaintiff’s counsel (paraphrased).
**Why RICO? – *Key Legal Strategy*
- Enterprise: Defendants as “facilitators” in ongoing racketeering (pattern of 100s of scams).
- Predicate Acts: Wires (fake sites), mail fraud, crypto txns → Treble damages + attorney fees.
- Precedent: Builds on DOJ/SEC suits seizing $15B+ from pig-butchering rings (e.g., Chen Zhi case).
Next: Motion to dismiss likely; discovery could expose full network (wallets, IPs). Class certification brewing.
Broader “Pig-Butchering” Crisis
| Stat | Impact |
|---|---|
| Global Losses | $75B+ (2020-2025); $6.5B U.S. (2024 alone). |
| Targets | GA retirees heavily hit (SOS alert). |
| DOJ Wins | $225M (Jun ’25) + $15B BTC (Oct ’25) seized. |
⚠️ Protect Yourself: Verify platforms (e.g., Coinbase); never chase “guaranteed” returns; report to FBI IC3/GA SOS.
Read Complaint: PACER (N.D. Tex.) (search “pig-butchering RICO Georgia”). “Civil RICO strikes back at enablers.” 🚀