ChapmanAlbin is investigating Andrew Hamilton Jacobus (CRD 5787316) after federal authorities described a years-long investment fraud that harmed investors who trusted him with their savings. Jacobus, the principal behind Finser International Corporation and Kronus Financial Corporation, was sentenced in February 2026 to 20 years in federal prison in connection with a scheme that prosecutors valued at more than $94 million, including misappropriated client funds and Ponzi-style payments. This page is based on public records, including FINRA/IAPD information, SEC filings, and federal court documents. Below, we break down what the records show in plain English, highlight common warning signs, and explain what documents to gather if you invested with Jacobus or his firms.
Andrew Hamilton Jacobus
June 23, 2026
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Broker Snapshot
| Broker Name | Andrew H. Jacobus |
| CRD # | 5787316 |
| Most recent registered firm: | Finser International Corporation (CRD 153810), Coral Gables, FL |
| Related entity: | Kronus Financial Corporation |
| Registration status: | Not currently registered as an investment adviser representative |
| Primary concern: | Federal criminal conviction and 20-year prison sentence for investment fraud; pending SEC civil action; prior SEC administrative order |
| Products/offerings in the records: | Corfiser SIMI Fund B.V. (later the Kronus High Yield Fund); purported IPO-stock and securities investments |
| Potential investor claim themes: | Fraud and misappropriation, Ponzi-style payments, breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentation, elder financial abuse |
Key Facts and Public Records
Further Details
What the public records describe
Andrew Hamilton Jacobus operated as an investment adviser through Finser International Corporation and a related firm, Kronus Financial Corporation. According to public records, he told clients their money was being invested in legitimate funds and securities — including a private fund and purported IPO stocks — but instead diverted client money for his own use and used new investor money to pay earlier investors. The records describe forged account statements and fictitious balances that made accounts look healthy when the money had been taken. Many of the affected investors were Venezuelan nationals, and the group of victims also included faith-based institutions and elderly individuals.
Regulatory and enforcement actions
The public record reflects a layered set of actions. The SEC first entered an administrative order in 2020 addressing undisclosed fees and custody-rule problems at Finser. In 2025, the SEC filed a civil fraud case alleging misappropriation of more than $17 million from advisory clients and roughly $7.8 million in Ponzi-like payments. Separately, federal prosecutors brought a criminal case; Jacobus pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering and, in February 2026, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in a matter prosecutors valued at more than $94 million. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is also reflected in the records. This section is intentionally high level; the underlying filings contain the detailed allegations and findings.
Why these issues matter
When an adviser misappropriates client money and disguises it with fabricated statements, investors often do not learn anything is wrong until the money is gone. Ponzi-style structures are especially damaging because the “returns” some investors received were really other investors’ principal, which can complicate recovery and, in some cases, lead to clawback demands. For people who placed retirement savings, family money, or institutional funds with a trusted adviser, the losses can be severe and difficult to unwind. Documentation — statements, wire records, and communications — becomes critical to understanding what actually happened to an account.
What investors can do and how ChapmanAlbin can help
If you invested with Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, Finser International Corporation, or Kronus Financial Corporation and believe your money was misused or not invested as promised, you are not alone, and you may have options. A criminal conviction does not by itself return money to investors, so it is often worth reviewing whether other parties — such as banks or brokerage firms that held or moved the funds — may bear responsibility. Potential claims here can involve fraud and misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duty, and misrepresentation and omission. ChapmanAlbin can review your situation and explain what recovery avenues may be available based on your specific facts.
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Common Warning Signs
- Account statements or “portfolio summaries” that came directly from the adviser rather than an independent custodian
- Steady, “too good to be true” returns that never seemed to dip, even in bad markets
- Difficulty withdrawing your money, or delays and excuses when you asked to cash out
- Money wired to a fund, a private offering, or an account in the adviser’s name or control
- Pressure to keep money invested, reinvest “profits,” or recruit friends and family
- Statements showing holdings or balances you could not independently verify
Documents to Gather
- Account statements and any “unofficial” portfolio summaries you received
- Wire receipts, ACH records, checks, and transfer instructions showing where your money went
- Subscription or offering documents, including any private placement memorandum or limited partnership paperwork
- Emails, texts, letters, and notes from meetings or calls about your investments
- Records of any “returns,” distributions, or payments you received
- Any forms or signatures you do not recognize or do not remember authorizing
Potentially Relevant Investor Claims
Products or Strategies Mentioned
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Ponzi scheme, in simple terms?
A Ponzi scheme pays existing investors using money from new investors rather than from real investment profits. It can look legitimate for years because early investors get paid, but it collapses when new money slows down. Investors who received “profits” may even face demands to return them later.
Jacobus was convicted — does that mean I automatically get my money back?
Not automatically. A criminal conviction and any restitution order are handled through the court system and can take time, and recovery is often partial. Many investors separately explore civil claims, including against firms that held or transferred funds, to pursue additional recovery.
I invested through Finser or Kronus. What should I do first?
Gather your statements, wire and transfer records, and communications, and avoid discarding anything — even documents that seem minor. Then consider speaking with counsel who can review the specific facts of your account.
What if I actually received payments or “returns”?
That is common in these cases and does not necessarily prevent you from seeking help. It is still important to document what you put in and what you received, because the net figures matter and because payments labeled as “returns” can have legal significance.

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Disclaimer
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Past outcomes are not a guarantee of future results. Each matter is different and depends on its specific facts.

