Who is Roni Cohen-Pavon and why is he facing sentencing?

Roni Cohen-Pavon was the former chief revenue officer of Celsius Network. He pleaded guilty in 2023 to fraud and conspiracy charges tied to manipulation of the CEL token. US authorities are now seeking a $1.07 million forfeiture ahead of his sentencing hearing.

What is the $1.07 million forfeiture connected to?

Prosecutors said the $1.07 million represents proceeds linked to crimes involving manipulation of Celsius’s CEL token. Cohen-Pavon agreed to the judgment as part of the legal process. The forfeiture is separate from any prison sentence the court may impose.

What did prosecutors accuse Celsius executives of doing?

US authorities accused Celsius executives of artificially supporting and manipulating the value of the CEL token. Prosecutors claimed insiders misled investors while the company faced financial problems behind the scenes. The case became one of the highest-profile crypto fraud prosecutions after the 2022 market collapse.

Why could Cohen-Pavon receive a lighter sentence?

Federal prosecutors asked the court to consider sentencing reductions because Cohen-Pavon cooperated with authorities during investigations tied to Celsius and former CEO Alex Mashinsky. Cooperation agreements can sometimes reduce prison time if prosecutors believe a defendant provided substantial assistance. However, the final sentence remains up to the judge.

What did Roni Cohen-Pavon say about the charges?

Cohen-Pavon admitted guilt in a letter to Judge John Koeltl, saying he took “full responsibility” for participating in CEL token manipulation. He said he should have stopped the conduct earlier and accepted accountability for his actions. Public admissions like this can sometimes influence sentencing decisions.

How important was the Celsius collapse for the crypto industry?

The collapse of Celsius in 2022 became one of the crypto sector’s biggest failures during the broader market downturn. The company’s bankruptcy damaged confidence in crypto lending platforms and contributed to wider industry stress. The crisis also preceded the collapse of FTX later that year.

What happened to former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky?

Alex Mashinsky pleaded guilty to securities and commodities fraud and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2025. He also agreed to major financial forfeitures tied to the Celsius collapse. The case marked one of the harshest criminal penalties imposed on a crypto executive.

How does this compare with Sam Bankman-Fried’s case?

Former Sam Bankman-Fried received a 25-year prison sentence after being convicted over the collapse of FTX. He was also ordered to forfeit billions of dollars tied to investor losses. Both the Celsius and FTX cases became defining examples of crypto-sector misconduct during the 2022 downturn.

US seeks $1M forfeiture from former Celsius executive

Written by Liezl GambePublished May. 14 2026

Former Celsius Network chief revenue officer Roni Cohen-Pavon agreed to forfeit more than $1 million to US authorities ahead of his sentencing hearing tied to fraud and market manipulation charges.

A filing from US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said Cohen-Pavon consented to a $1.07 million judgment representing proceeds connected to crimes involving manipulation of Celsius’s CEL token.

Cohen-Pavon pleaded guilty in September 2023 to fraud and conspiracy to commit price manipulation after prosecutors accused him of participating in efforts to artificially support the value of the CEL token.

Federal prosecutors did not recommend a specific prison sentence but asked the court to consider sentencing reductions linked to Cohen-Pavon’s cooperation with authorities during investigations tied to Celsius and former chief executive Alex Mashinsky.

“I pleaded guilty because I am guilty,”

Cohen-Pavon wrote in a letter to Judge John Koeltl, adding that he took “full responsibility” for participating in manipulation of the CEL token.

The collapse of Celsius in 2022 became one of the crypto industry’s largest failures during the broader market downturn that also contributed to the collapse of the FTX exchange later that year.

Mashinsky was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2025 after pleading guilty to securities and commodities fraud, while former FTX chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried continues appealing his conviction and 25-year prison sentence tied to the collapse of FTX.