⏱ 2 min read
A 42-year-old Ukrainian national, Olena Oblamska, has been extradited from Thailand to the United States to face charges for her role in a global Ponzi and pyramid scheme that took in approximately $340 million from victim-investors around the world. The scheme, which was operated through a platform called Forsage, was advertised as a decentralized matrix project based on network marketing and smart contracts. However, in reality, it was a Ponzi scheme that paid earlier investors with funds from later investors. Oblamska was extradited to Oregon last Friday and made her initial appearance in federal court, where she pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The Forsage platform was promoted as a legitimate, low-risk, and lucrative investment opportunity through its website and various social-media platforms. However, the defendants operated it as a Ponzi and pyramid investment scheme, with smart contracts that automatically diverted investor funds to other Forsage investors. This meant that earlier investors were paid with funds from later investors, consistent with a Ponzi scheme.
Oblamska’s arrest and extradition were the result of a joint investigation by the FBI Portland Field Office, the US Secret Service, HSI New York, and HSI Bangkok. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance in securing her arrest and extradition from Thailand. Oblamska is scheduled to go to trial on July 14, 2026, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 if convicted.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sara Hallmark and Tian Huang of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine A. Rykken and Meredith Bateman. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating complex financial crimes and bringing those responsible to justice.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Oregon
- Location: OR
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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