Matthew Melton was extradited from the United Kingdom to the Southern District of New York on Dec. 23, 2025, to face securities-fraud and wire-fraud charges tied to his “Price Physics” fund. Prosecutors allege the fund was a Ponzi scheme that raised millions by falsely promising algorithmic trading returns and used investor money for a luxury lifestyle and to pay earlier investors.

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York allege that Matthew Melton ran the so-called Price Physics fund as a Ponzi scheme that solicited millions of dollars from investors by promising algorithm-driven trading returns. According to the indictment unsealed after his Dec. 23, 2025, extradition from the U.K., Melton purportedly misrepresented trading performance and diverted investor funds to finance an opulent lifestyle and to make fictitious distributions to earlier investors. The complaint charges securities fraud and wire fraud, and seeks criminal prosecution in SDNY, with the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation leading the enforcement action. The government says detailed transactional records, investor communications, and financial transfers underpin its case. The matter highlights cross-border cooperation in recovering alleged financial fugitives and signals continued federal emphasis on enforcement against investment frauds that exploit algorithmic and quantitative trading claims. If convicted, Melton faces significant prison exposure, forfeiture of proceeds, and restitution to defrauded investors.