Fake Crypto Influencer Gets 15 Months for $1.4M Telegram Staking Fraud

In brief A New York man, Noman Saleem, 39, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a wire-fraud scheme that impersonated well-known crypto influencers. Posing as the influencers on Telegram, he lured victims into a bogus crypto staking opportunity with "guaranteed returns," then disappeared with their money. Saleem took in at least $1.4 million; prosecutors said the government clawed back much of it in crypto and cash. A New York man who masqueraded as well-known crypto influencers to fleece investors is heading to prison. Noman Saleem, 39, of Queens and Levittown, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a wire-fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland said Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow handed down the term. A New York man received a federal-prison term for mimicking popular crypto influencers as he carried out a wire-fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Noman Saleem, 39, of Queens and Levittown, to 15 months in prison, in connection with the scam.… pic.twitter.com/CZlwKdGSuq — US Attorney Maryland (@USAO_MD) June 23, 2026 Starting in December 2020, Saleem impersonated popular online crypto influencers to win victims' trust, prosecutors said, persuading them to send crypto to wallets he controlled. Once he had the funds, he cut off contact and disappeared. Saleem set up Telegram handles copying two well-known influencers, drawing thousands of followers to a public channel. He then charged roughly $500 to $600 in crypto for access to a "VIP" channel, where members could message him directly, believing they were talking to the real influencer. There, he advertised staking rewards over 30- to 90-day terms, telling investors the more they put in, the more they would earn. He never staked anything. Crypto staking typically involves locking up tokens to help secure a blockchain in exchange for yield, often in the range of 5% to 20%.  All told, Saleem took in at least $1.4 million in crypto and cash, including from a victim in Maryland, according to court documents. The government recovered much of it, prosecutors said, after he pleaded guilty last September. The case, investigated by the FBI's Baltimore field office, is the latest U.S. prosecution targeting fraud dressed in crypto's jargon, where impostors lean on the names of trusted figures and the lure of passive income to separate investors from their coins. Daily Debrief Newsletter Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more. Your Email Get it! Get it!