US charges two former Linqto CEOs over $450 million 'pre-IPO' fraud scheme, one pleads guilty

PUBLISHED Sep 2, 2026, 6:58 PM ET

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced criminal fraud charges against William Sarris and Joseph Endoso, former chief executive officers of the now-bankrupt investment platform Linqto, over their alleged roles in a four hundred fifty million dollar pre-IPO scheme. Sarris, who founded the Silicon Valley firm and served as chief executive for fourteen years, faces six counts including securities fraud, wire fraud, broker-dealer fraud, and conspiracy. Endoso pleaded guilty to related charges and is cooperating with authorities. According to the indictment, Sarris allegedly exploited investor demand for private companies such as Anthropic, Ripple, and SpaceX by manufacturing false scarcity and imposing unauthorized markups exceeding two hundred percent between twenty twenty and twenty twenty-five. The platform raised funds from over thirteen thousand investors before filing for Chapter eleven bankruptcy protection last July. Defense counsel for Sarris stated that he is innocent and intends to contest the charges in court.

By James Porter | JQJO News

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Left: Emphasizes regulatory failures protecting retail investors from fraudulent private markets. Center: Reports official prosecutor statements and legal defense positions neutrally. Right: Highlights systemic market risks and corporate governance failures in private firms.