FRAUDULENT FUND PREYS ON FAITHFUL! $5 MILLION VANISHES!

SEC v. Mina Tadrus, Tadrus Capital LLC — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Litigation Release No. 26447, dated December 17, 2025.

The SEC charged Mina Tadrus and Tadrus Capital LLC with defrauding members of the Egyptian Coptic Christian community. They allegedly raised over $5 million by promising guaranteed monthly returns through algorithmic trading but instead used funds for Ponzi-like payments and personal expenses. Tadrus ultimately consented to a final judgment, permanently enjoined from violating securities laws and barred from issuing or trading securities outside his personal account.

In Plain English

Imagine someone promising you a special piggy bank that would magically grow your money every month, no matter what. They told you it used a super-smart computer program to do this. But instead of actually growing the money, they took a lot of it to pay off earlier investors, like a chain letter, and spent some on themselves. The SEC stepped in to stop this, and the person in charge agreed to a judgment that stops them from doing this kind of thing again.

Disclaimer: all facts are drawn from the SEC's own filings; the claims described are allegations unless and until a court rules or the parties settle, and some cases end in dismissal.

How the Alleged Scheme Worked

1. Targeting the Community Starting at least in September 2020, Mina Tadrus and Tadrus Capital LLC began soliciting investments from members of the Egyptian Coptic Christian community.
2. The Investment Pitch Defendants falsely told investors that their funds would be pooled and invested using algorithmic trading. They promised a 'steady monthly return on investment' that was guaranteed.
3. Raising Funds Through these solicitations, the defendants successfully raised more than $5 million from at least 31 investors.
4. Misappropriation of Funds Instead of investing the funds as promised, the defendants did not invest the vast majority of the investors' money.
5. Ponzi-Like Payments Approximately $1.4 million of investor funds were used to make Ponzi-like payments to satisfy the 'guaranteed' monthly returns promised to earlier investors.
6. Personal Enrichment Further, the defendants misappropriated over $380,000 of investors' money for Tadrus's personal benefit.

The Enforcement Action

On December 12, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered a final consent judgment against Mina Tadrus. Tadrus was permanently enjoined from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933; Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder; and Sections 206(1), 206(2), and 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-8 thereunder. He was also barred from issuing, purchasing, offering, or selling securities outside of his personal trading account and received an officer-and-director bar. Tadrus was ordered to pay disgorgement of $4,070,350 plus prejudgment interest of $72,100, which is to be satisfied by restitution ordered in a parallel criminal case (United States v. Tadrus, 23 Cr. 393 (E.D.N.Y.)). Assets frozen pursuant to a preliminary injunction were ordered turned over to the criminal court to satisfy the restitution order. The SEC's complaint was filed on July 28, 2023.

Named in this action: Mina Tadrus, Tadrus Capital LLC.

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