Swindled 130. The Wunderkind (Ephren Taylor II)
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Aug 14, 2025 Dive into a web of deception as a self-proclaimed socially conscious entrepreneur leads thousands into a devastating Ponzi scheme. Discover how Ephren Taylor II manipulated trust through church seminars while other fraudsters exploited crises like COVID-19. Uncover the emotional fallout faced by victims and the intertwined scandals involving televangelists and bishops. Experience the rise and fall of an ambitious young CEO whose story serves as a cautionary tale about greed and betrayal in the world of investment.
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Fake Credibility Through Acquisitions
- Lucian Development marketed itself by buying trusted advisors to inherit credibility and clients.
- They funneled investor funds into secret issuers controlled by the parent company and used new deposits to pay earlier investors.
Victims Turned Perpetrators
- Chris Paris and Perry Santillo became operators of a Ponzi scheme after investing in Ephron Taylor's City Capital and losing money.
- They switched from victims to perpetuators when they acquired toxic assets to recover losses.
From Teen Game Maker To CEO
- Ephron Taylor began as a teen entrepreneur making and selling a 3D video game and later founded successful youth-oriented businesses.
- He parlayed early tech success into multiple ventures that built his public narrative as a youthful whiz kid.
