Haselkorn & Thibaut, a national investment fraud law firm, has opened an investigation into potential recovery options for investors who suffered losses connected to Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, a former Fort Lauderdale financial advisor now sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for orchestrating a $94 million Ponzi scheme.
If you invested with Jacobus or any of his affiliated entities, you may have legal options. Contact Haselkorn & Thibaut at 1-888-885-7162 for a free consultation.
Who Is Andrew Hamilton Jacobus?
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Andrew Hamilton Jacobus (CRD #1532725) operated as a financial advisor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for nearly two decades. He was registered with Finser International Corporation from 2010 to 2021 and controlled several other entities including Kronus Management, Kronus Financial Corp., and Serfincorp Asset Management.
On February 6, 2026, Jacobus was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, his scheme defrauded more than 150 investors over a period spanning from 2004 to 2023.
You can verify his registration history through FINRA BrokerCheck.
How the Scheme Operated
Federal prosecutors alleged that Jacobus portrayed himself as an experienced financial advisor managing legitimate investment portfolios. In reality, authorities say he:
- Solicited funds through multiple corporations he controlled
- Promised secure investments and high-yield returns
- Forged account statements and falsified documentation
- Used new investor funds to pay earlier investors
- Diverted millions for personal luxury expenditures
The victims included Venezuelan professionals such as lawyers and doctors, members of the Venezuelan Archdiocese, former employees, and even members of his own family.
Complete Timeline of Regulatory and Legal Issues
Below is a comprehensive summary of all publicly disclosed matters involving Andrew Hamilton Jacobus:
| Type | Date | Allegation | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FINRA Regulatory Action | October 2014 | Failure to timely respond to FINRA information requests | Censure and fine | $5,000 |
| Customer Arbitration | April 2018 | Unsuitable investment recommendations; unauthorized trades | Settled | $30,000 |
| Civil Litigation | June 2019 | Breach of fiduciary duty and negligence in pension rollover advice | Dismissed | N/A |
| SEC Sanction | 2020 | Violations of the Investment Advisers Act | Sanction issued | Not disclosed |
| Personal Bankruptcy | 2024 | Bankruptcy filing | Filed | N/A |
| SEC Civil Enforcement | May 2025 | Misappropriation of $17.3 million from at least 40 clients | Action filed | $17.3M+ |
| Federal Criminal Sentencing | February 2026 | Wire fraud and money laundering ($94 million Ponzi scheme) | 20 years prison | $94M |
Red Flags Investors Should Have Recognized
Looking back, several warning signs were present that may have indicated problems with Jacobus and his operations:
- 2014 FINRA censure for failing to respond to regulatory information requests
- 2018 customer arbitration alleging unsuitable recommendations and unauthorized trading
- 2020 SEC sanction for Investment Advisers Act violations
- Promises of unusually high returns with little to no risk
- Use of multiple affiliated entities that may have obscured the true nature of investments
- 2024 personal bankruptcy filing while still managing client assets
- Fabricated account statements that did not match actual holdings
These warning signs underscore the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before entrusting your money to any financial advisor. Checking an advisor’s background through regulatory databases can reveal patterns that suggest potential problems.
Entities Connected to the Scheme
Investors who worked with any of the following firms may have been affected:
- Finser International Corporation
- Kronus Management
- Kronus Financial Corp.
- Serfincorp Asset Management
- Corfiser SIMI Fund (Kronus High Yield Fund)
Why Criminal Sentencing May Not Be Enough
While a 20-year federal prison sentence represents significant accountability, criminal proceedings rarely result in full financial recovery for victims. The money has often been spent, hidden, or is otherwise difficult to recover through criminal restitution alone.
However, investors may have additional legal avenues to pursue. Those who were introduced to Jacobus through another brokerage firm or financial institution may have potential claims through FINRA arbitration.
Possible claims may exist against:
- Supervising broker-dealers who failed to monitor Jacobus’s activities
- Investment advisory firms with compliance failures
- Firms that conducted inadequate due diligence
- Third-party advisors who recommended Jacobus or his products
Your Potential Path to Recovery
If you or someone you know invested with Andrew Hamilton Jacobus or any of his affiliated entities, it’s important to understand your options. The statute of limitations for certain claims may be running, so time is a factor.
Haselkorn & Thibaut (investmentfraudlawyers.com) is a national investment fraud law firm with over 50 years of combined experience handling securities fraud and FINRA arbitration cases. The firm maintains a 98% success rate and has recovered millions of dollars for clients nationwide.
Their approach is straightforward: no recovery, no fee. You pay nothing unless they recover money on your behalf.
Get a Free Consultation Today
Understanding your legal options starts with a conversation. The team at Haselkorn & Thibaut can review your situation, explain what claims may be available, and help you determine the best path forward.
Call Haselkorn & Thibaut at 1-888-885-7162 for a free, confidential case evaluation. Their experienced securities attorneys are ready to help you explore potential recovery options related to Andrew Hamilton Jacobus and the Finser International Corporation Ponzi scheme.
Don’t wait to learn what options may be available to you.
