Duperier & Joseph, Ponzi Scheme, Massachusetts 2025

BOSTON – A devastating Ponzi scheme has left dozens of victims reeling, with a Randolph couple at the center of the scandal. Milendophe Duperier, 33, and Vanessa Joseph, 26, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The scheme, which spanned from early 2018 to December 2022, saw Duperier act as an investment advisor, soliciting investments from individuals and advising them that their funds would be invested in the securities markets. However, instead of investing the funds as promised, Duperier and Joseph used the money to pay prior investors and for personal purchases and expenses, including payments for luxury vehicles and mortgage and credit card debt.

According to the charging documents, the couple defrauded dozens of individual investors, some of whom had invested their life savings, of more than $3.2 million. As part of the scheme, Duperier and Joseph applied for and received small business loans for various entities and used the loan proceeds to pay purported investment returns to victim investors.

Duperier made false statements and excuses to investors as to why he had not made promised interest payments and/or could not return the investors’ principal. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.

U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun has scheduled both sentencings for October 14, 2025. The case was announced by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division.

Duperier and Joseph were charged in May 2025, bringing an end to the multi-million dollar scheme. If you have questions, concerns or information about this case, please reach out to usama.victimassistance@usdoj.gov.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie A. Queenin and Leslie A. Wright of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division.

The mandatory facts in this case are as follows: Defendant Milendophe Duperier and Vanessa Joseph have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The crime dates back to early 2018 and continued until December 2022. The couple faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. The total amount of money defrauded is over $3.2 million.

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