Justice has made its decision: Leonardo Cositorto was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the mega-scam of Generación Zoe

The Goya Court sentenced Leonardo Cositorto , founder of Generación Zoe , to 12 years in prison for the crimes of “fraud and illicit association in the province of Corrientes.” The sentence was announced on Tuesday, after judges Ricardo Carbajal, Jorge Carbone and Julio Duarte had already declared him guilty last Friday.

The Court also sentenced his associates, Miguel Ángel Echegaray, Maximiliano Javier Batista and Lucas Damián Camelino, to “eight years in prison.” Although the verdict is not yet final and “the defendants’ defenses can appeal the verdict before the Court of Cassation,” Cositorto “will have to return to the Bower prison in Córdoba,” where he was detained before the trial.

In his final words, Cositorto was moved and tearfully said: "We never intended to defraud anyone." He also apologized to Judge "Ricardo Carabajal" for his outburst on Friday, when he repeatedly shouted against the Court and justified his reaction by saying: "I did not rise up against the authority, I rose up against corruption, bribery, kickbacks and lies."

In this context, he made a surprising announcement about his future: "That is why I am going to run as a deputy for the province of Buenos Aires if, clearly, the politicians allow me to." He also demanded "an independent justice system" and that he be transferred to "a fair institution" that takes into account his situation.

During the hearing, Cositorto insisted on his innocence and said: "We did not take any money from here. We never had the intention of defrauding anyone, we always thought big, but we always remained simple, studying."

Last Friday, after hearing the Court's decision, the leader of Generación Zoe caused a scandal in the courtroom and shouted: "He's lying. It's a disgrace. You're bought!" In response, Judge "Carabajal" ordered his immediate removal: "Put handcuffs on him and get him out of the courtroom!"

The trial in Corrientes focused on proving that Generación Zoe operated as a "front" to commit fraud under a pyramid scheme. The prosecution argued that Cositorto and his partners promised large profits in exchange for investments, but after a while they did not return the investments or the money deposited. In his defense, the businessman rejected the accusations and claimed: "There was never a pyramid, the Ponzi scheme is stupid."

This is how Leonardo Cositorto left the Corrientes courts, after being sentenced to 12 years in prison for the crimes of fraud and illicit association. pic.twitter.com/AFtoa8ebze

— TN – All News (@todonoticias) February 25, 2025

"Generation Zoe": Because Leonardo Cositorto was sentenced to 12 years in prison pic.twitter.com/bftfvh0onU

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