Ramesh Kris Nathan, 37, stands accused of running a high-flying, interstellar con—promising investors a ride to the financial stratosphere through a phantom space tech empire. Federal prosecutors unsealed a seven-count indictment on January 17, 2019, charging Nathan with wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. The alleged scheme centered on a Nevada shell corporation, Relativity Research Fund, Inc., which prosecutors say had no real operations, no employees, and no technology—just a slick website and a trail of stolen identities and stolen cash.
Nathan, a U.S. national last known to reside in Chennai, India, allegedly created Relativity between June 2016 and August 2017 to lure investors with tall tales of advanced robotics, combustion-free propulsion systems, and prototype spacecraft. He claimed the company had $10,000,000 in capital, seven global offices, 15,456 employees, and a jaw-dropping $36.87 billion in gross revenue for Q4 2016—profits he said hit $29.8 billion. None of it was real. The Nasdaq Private Market listing he promised? A lie. The tech breakthroughs? Vaporware.
According to the Department of Justice, Nathan didn’t just exaggerate—he forged entire realities. He allegedly used a victim’s personal information to open and control a bank account without authorization. That account became a funnel for investor funds, which were siphoned off not to R&D, but to Nathan’s personal expenses, his mother, and his then-girlfriend. Overseas transfers followed, draining millions from trusting backers who believed they were funding the future of space travel.
The indictment details how Nathan deployed a web of deceit through emails and the company’s website, crafting a narrative so bold it bordered on science fiction. Investors were told their money would fuel propulsion breakthroughs and next-gen aerospace innovation. Instead, it fueled Nathan’s lifestyle and offshore transfers. The FBI traced the digital footprints of false claims, bounced wires, and forged documents to build the case.
Nathan was arrested in Los Angeles yesterday and made his initial appearance in federal court today. He faces six counts of wire fraud—each carrying up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine—and two counts of money laundering, each punishable by 10 years and another $250,000 fine. The aggravated identity theft charge adds a mandatory two-year prison term, consecutive to any other sentence, plus fines and potential restitution.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Vieira is leading the prosecution, with assistance from Kimberly Richardson. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. An indictment is not a conviction—Nathan is presumed innocent until proven guilty. But the government’s case paints a picture of a man who sold stars and delivered only smoke.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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