LOS ANGELES, CA – A California man who styled himself as European nobility has agreed to plead guilty to charges of operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded members of the Filipino community, including elderly churchgoers, out of nearly $6 million, federal authorities announced.
Sylvein William Maximilian D’Habsburg XVII, a 48-year-old resident of West Hills, has been charged with one count of wire fraud. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, D’Habsburg adopted a name evoking the historic Habsburg dynasty but had legally changed his name to create the illusion of aristocratic lineage. Authorities clarified that he has no ties to the European royal family.
Prosecutors allege that D’Habsburg persuaded investors to pour funds into two companies, Wild Rabbit Technologies LLC and BAI Intelligence LLC, by claiming they were on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence technology. His pitch included fantastical claims that the technology could predict future events and diagnose COVID-19 infections using video recordings. Investors were further enticed by assurances that the ventures had backing from prominent figures, including retired professional athletes and tech icons.
The funds were purportedly meant to secure patents and staff the companies. Instead, investigators found that D’Habsburg used the money to finance a lavish lifestyle, purchasing luxury vehicles and antiques, including a rare 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental Sedanca de Ville by Barker, which had a reported value exceeding $200,000.
Federal prosecutors said D’Habsburg exploited his victims’ trust, particularly within a community that placed significant value on familial and social networks. Many of those targeted were elderly members of religious congregations.
D’Habsburg’s guilty plea could carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Federal authorities are continuing to investigate the case, signaling that further restitution measures may be sought for the victims.
