ATLANTA — U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg and FBI Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Seres announced the overseas capture, deportation, and arrest of a Flowery Branch man accused of organizing a $165 million Ponzi scheme.

Officials say Edward Zimbardi faces federal charges after being deported from Fiji.

Zimbardi is accused of being the organizer of the Ponzi scheme. Last month, he was charged in a federal indictment with 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

“Zimbardi allegedly tricked thousands of people to invest in his ‘Crypto Program’ with false promises of enormous returns. Instead, he spent the money on risky currency trades, payments to early investors, and treating himself to a house and expensive vehicles,” said Hertzberg. “When his scam imploded, he allegedly tried to evade federal prosecutors by fleeing to the other side of the world. Thanks to law enforcement and diplomatic authorities in Fiji and the United States, Zimbardi is back on American soil and will face trial.”

This is a developing story. Stay with WSB Radio News for updates.