One after another, witnesses took the stand Wednesday, alleging they were defrauded by “Crypto King” Aiden Pleterski, as the self-represented accused largely sat silent, declining opportunities to challenge their evidence through cross-examination.
asserted
accused → take → examination
Pleterski has pleaded not guilty to defrauding investors and money laundering tied to what prosecutors describe as a classic Ponzi scheme, a setup where funds from new investors are used to pay out earlier ones, creating the illusion of legitimate returns.
asserted
funds → plead → returns
Prosecutors say the operation bankrolled the 20‑something’s extravagant lifestyle, including fleets of luxury cars, real‑estate ventures, private‑jet travel and credit-card bills.
asserted
operation → say → cars
After jurors settled into their seats in the downtown Toronto courtroom on Wednesday, Superior Court Justice Shaun Nakatsuru asked the now 27-year-old if he had any questions for a woman who testified Tuesday that she invested about $73,000 with Pleterski and, despite promises of high returns and her relentless follow-up, she failed to recoup a penny.
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she → settle → penny
“Your Honour, I don’t have any questions,” Pleterski said, adding, “I need a lawyer,” and dropping back in his chair.
asserted
I → have → chair
This prompted the judge to immediately ask jurors to step out of court.
asserted
This → prompt → court
What was then discussed in the jury’s absence cannot be reported until the trial has ended.
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trial → discuss → absence
Prosecutors then called their next witness, Stewart Wilson, who manages an exotic car rental company in Durham.
asserted
who → call → Durham
He described meeting Pleterski in 2020, when he was renting Audi R8 sports cars, Lamborghinis, McLarens, and sometimes bringing friends as additional customers.
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he → describe → customers
“He seemed personable and trustworthy; I don’t typically give anybody a car,” Wilson told the jurors.
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Wilson → seem → jurors
Renting high‑end cars is “addictive,” and Pleterski would come back with stories about going out and enjoying himself, Wilson said.
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Wilson → rent → himself
Aiden Pleterski, 27, the so-called Crypto King, has pleaded not guilty to fraud and money laundering.
asserted
Pleterski → call → fraud
Aiden Pleterski, 27, the so-called Crypto King, has pleaded not guilty to fraud and money laundering.
asserted
Pleterski → call → fraud
By late 2020, Wilson heard “through the grapevine” that Pleterski, who had stopped renting from his agency, was now collecting luxury vehicles.
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who → hear → vehicles
He also spotted him on social media living in a Lake Ontario mansion.
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him → spot → mansion
(Pleterski at one point asked the court what ”heard through the grapevine” meant; nor did he know the meaning of a “cul-de-sac.”
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he → ask → sac
In 2021, Wilson contacted Pleterski, who invited him to see his 8,000-square-foot home.
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who → contact → home
When Pleterski told him his mortgage was $49,000 a month, “I told him he was crazy,” Wilson said.
asserted
Wilson → tell → him
Pleterski also had 24‑hour security, and Wilson said he saw multiple exotic cars, including Lamborghinis, high‑end Audis and a $2‑million McLaren.
asserted
he → have → Lamborghinis
“For a young guy to be doing what he was doing, I was quite impressed,” he testified.
asserted
he → do → what
Pleterski told him he was specializing in equities and foreign exchange, and using a strategy targeting one per cent profit per day with strict stop‑losses.
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he → tell → stop‑losses
Wilson said he was reassured that Pleterski’s client list included close friends and relatives.
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list → say → friends
That fall, Wilson invested $290,000 with Pleterski’s company, AP Private Equity.
asserted
Wilson → invest → company
The agreement promised a 75/25 split on capital gains, guaranteed principal, the ability to withdraw at any time and an average capital‑gains target of one per cent.
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agreement → promise → cent
He continued investing in increments — $100,000, $190,000, $200,000 and another $100,000 by February 2022.
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He → continue → February
His fiancée also invested $300,000.
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fiancée → invest → 300,000
Weekly email updates from Pleterski showed consistent profits, which encouraged further deposits.
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which → show → deposits
He never imagined his money was funding Pleterski’s lifestyle.
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money → imagine → lifestyle
“It’s the craziest thing to think you get scammed,” Wilson told court.
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Wilson → ’ → court
By spring 2022, communication had deteriorated.
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communication → deteriorate → spring
While on vacation, Wilson told Pleterski he needed at least $400,000 for an obligation; Pleterski assured him the principal was safe and withdrawal was no problem.
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withdrawal → tell → him
But when the witness returned, Pleterski ignored his messages.
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Pleterski → return → messages
After he finished answering prosecutor Scott Patterson’s questions, the judge asked Pleterski if he wanted to ask the witness anything.
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he → finish → anything
Pleterski, once again wearing a grey suit and tie, declined.
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Pleterski → wear → suit
Nor did he have questions for realtor Nigel Thompson, who testified he gave Pleterski about $245,000.
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he → have → 245,000
He told jurors Pleterski eventually returned $40,000 that he pulled from the trunk of his car.
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he → tell → car
Thompson said he spotted cereal boxes and gift bags stuffed with money, which Pleterski told him was for other investors.
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Pleterski → say → investors
That’s when he decided, “I’ve got to get my money from this guy.”
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I → ’ → guy
He didn’t collect anything further.
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He → collect → anything
After Thompson finished on the stand, the judge again turned to Pleterski.
asserted
judge → finish → Pleterski
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
