Maui Crypto Scammer’s Broken Defense | Honolulu News

A 56-year-old crypto scammer from Maui, Alton Joseph Franco, faces charges for allegedly stealing $1.85 million using an AI-driven fake hedge fund that promised 10% monthly returns—only to spend most of it on credit cards and a vacation business. Now on GPS monitoring and restricted travel, Franco claims he’s broke and needs help paying for his defense, even as his lawyers complain about the ankle monitor’s physical toll. With a prior criminal record and FBI investigations underway, this case exposes the high-stakes fallout of crypto fraud—and the human cost behind the digital hustle. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bd2d7c3644651290