Late Red Notice let U.S $360m ponzi suspect hide in Fiji for over a year

A late Red Notice meant Fiji authorities were not alerted when an American man wanted over an alleged US$165 million (FJ$359.8 million) Ponzi scheme entered the country and remained here for more than a year.

Edward Zimbardi, 59, was deported to the United States last Friday after being located at a café in Namaka, Nadi.

He is facing federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with an alleged Ponzi scheme worth more than US$165 million (FJ$359.8 million).

Zimbardi was expected to appear in a US Federal Court yesterday.

U.S Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said Zimbardi fled to Fiji in July 2025 and cancelled his return ticket immediately after arriving.

Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto said Zimbardi was not in Fiji’s system as a wanted person when he entered the country.

“He was not in the system before he arrived. For example, there was no Red Notice in the system before he arrived. The Red Notice came much later when he was already in Fiji,” Mr Naupoto said.

Immigration Department permanent secretary Aliki Salusalu said authorities received intelligence from the U.S government last Thursday, August 13, and immediately worked with the U.S Embassy in Suva’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to locate and deport Zimbardi.

He said authorities located Zimbardi at a café in Namaka, Nadi.

“On Thursday we received some intel from the relevant authorities and we went down to Nadi where we located and apprehended him,” Mr Salusalu said.

This masthead understands Zimbardi was the franchise owner of the café. He also had plans to start an investment company.

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Seres said Zimbardi lived in a luxury island home. Sources say he lived on Naisoso Island. He is also understood to have lived alone and travelled out of the country to New Zealand and Hawaii.

Mr Hertzberg said FBI agents travelled to Fiji in an undercover capacity and escorted Zimbardi back to the United States. He was arrested after arriving in Los Angeles, California.

Mr Salusalu said the case demonstrated Fiji’s commitment to preventing people wanted overseas from using the country as a hiding place.

“This was a very successful case in terms of our border security enforcement, with close collaboration between government agencies, law enforcement agencies and our counterparts overseas,” he said.

“One person of interest that may want to use Fiji as a safe haven from their crimes; Fiji is not the place to come and hide because we can locate you and send you back.

“Fiji cannot be a place for criminals to come and hide.”

He said Fiji’s reputation was at stake when international fugitives entered the country to escape the consequences of their alleged crimes.