Venezuelan authorities have arrested Rosa María González, a key suspect in the Generación Zoe crypto scam that defrauded tens of thousands of investors. The 30-year-old fled Argentina with 611 Bitcoin worth about $56 million after the scheme's collapse in mid-2022. Her capture in San Cristóbal follows years on the run and attempts to launch new frauds.
Rosa María González, accused of playing a central role in the Argentine cryptocurrency firm Generación Zoe, was detained in San Cristóbal, Táchira state, Venezuela, through an Interpol operation. The scandal erupted in mid-2022 when the company, promising investors returns of up to 70% per month via proprietary trading algorithms featuring "quantum security," was revealed as a Ponzi scheme. Investigators found it paid early participants with funds from new ones, defrauding at least $120 million from tens of thousands of victims.
González, who introduced founder Leonardo Cositorto to the algorithms, promoted them in videos, claiming: "It’s the most advanced crypto trading algorithm out there. It doesn’t exist anywhere else. But we have it right here." After the collapse, she evaded capture in Buenos Aires by moving between apartments protected by private security before crossing into Venezuela. Cositorto, sentenced to 12 years in prison nearly one year ago, told investigators she fled with 611 Bitcoin valued at $56 million today.
While in hiding, González allegedly orchestrated a new scam targeting Argentine investors, offering 5% monthly returns on stakes of $1,000 or more via cryptocurrency transactions with purported UK-based companies. She funded associates in Venezuela, including sending money to one to quit his job and focus on recruitment, defrauding about a dozen people of roughly $300,000.
Extradition to Argentina faces significant hurdles. Diplomatic ties were severed in July 2024 after Argentina deemed Venezuela's elections fraudulent, leaving no embassy in Caracas. Brazil recently withdrew from managing Argentine interests, and Interpol officials noted safety concerns for federal police operations in Venezuela. Cositorto has urged González to cooperate, hoping her testimony could aid in recovering lost funds. Sources suggest she may have been pressured into some activities, though probes emphasize her direct involvement.
