A man based in Brooklyn, NY, identified as Stanley Jean Gilles, is allegedly scamming people out of thousands of dollars by using influential figures in the Haitian music industry to help him lure victims into what appears to be a classic Ponzi scheme.
Jean Gilles allegedly convinced individuals to invest a few thousand dollars, promising that their investments would double or even triple in a short amount of time. However, as of now, he reportedly owes millions of dollars and is nowhere to be found. His website, JeanGillesCapital.com, remains online, but investors have been left without answers or their money.
The Influential Faces Involved
Some of the notable figures he used to legitimize his business include:
- Evenie Rose Thafaïna Saint-Louis (Tafa Mi Soleil)
- Female singer Georgy Mettelus
- String band members Jacky Ambroise and Philippe Augustin
- Jean Richard Herard and Edersse Stanis of the popular Haitian band Klass
- Social media influencer, KPS, appears to have played a major role in promoting the business
While there is no evidence that these individuals were aware of the alleged scheme, their endorsements contributed to Jean Gilles’ credibility and helped attract more investors.
Ongoing Investigation and Suspicious Business Practices
After a thorough investigation, we confirmed that Jean Gilles is currently under investigation, though details remain scarce as it is an ongoing case.
When an individual (who wishes to remain anonymous) asked us to investigate, we searched government databases for his business registration and came up empty for Jean Gilles Capital. However, we did find a business registration for a now-defunct food delivery app called 100% Haiti LLC, which was filed on May 5, 2020, and later shut down without a trace.
In that business venture, he reportedly used Barikad Crew member Izolan as a client and spokesperson, a clear pattern of leveraging celebrities to build credibility.
Additionally, he applied for and received a $20,000 PPP loan, which was forgiven.
We were also unable to verify his educational background, a major red flag since running an investment company typically requires financial expertise and industry credentials.
Lessons to Learn: If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Is
To be clear, we are not saying that the artists who endorsed this company were knowingly involved in fraudulent activities. However, this should serve as a learning experience for everyone.
Fast money doesn’t mean real money or good money. When investing, it is crucial to research who you are entrusting your funds to. The artists involved should have done more due diligence before putting their names behind a financial business and claiming to have invested and made high returns. Their endorsements helped convince victims to trust the scheme.
Now, many innocent people have lost significant sums of money. Reports suggest:
- One person invested $70,000
- Another lost $40,000
- A “lucky” investor only lost $14,000
While victims deserve sympathy, financial responsibility falls on everyone. Before investing, it is your duty to conduct due diligence—know who you’re dealing with, where your money is going, and how it’s being invested.
Key Lessons Before Investing in Any Financial Business
Starting and operating a legitimate financial investment company requires strict legal, educational, and financial qualifications. Here are the essentials:
- Legal and Regulatory Requirements
- Business Registration & Structure: The company must be legally registered as an LLC, Corporation, or Partnership.
- Securities Licenses: Anyone handling client investments must hold a Series 65, Series 7, or Series 63 license.
- SEC & FINRA Registration: Legitimate firms must be registered with the SEC or state regulators and follow FINRA guidelines.
- AML & KYC Compliance: Firms must have anti-money laundering (AML) policies and “Know Your Customer” (KYC) procedures in place.
- Educational and Professional Background
- A degree in finance-related (Business, Economics, Accounting) is highly recommended.
- Certifications like CFP, CFA, or CIM add credibility.
- Without these qualifications, an “investment company” is likely a scam.
- Financial Transparency
- A real investment company provides clear details on where funds are being invested.
- Returns should be realistic—not “double or triple your money in weeks.”
- Investors must receive official documentation regarding their funds.
Final Thoughts
If an investment opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Before trusting anyone with your money, ask questions, verify credentials, and demand transparency. Many victims have lost thousands because they blindly followed celebrity endorsements without investigating the company.
Until Stanley Jean Gilles is located and held accountable, those who fell victim will likely never see their money again. Let this be a lesson to never invest blindly—because fast money often disappears just as fast.