Jul 17, 2024 · Fresno, CA — Irma Olguin, Jr. and Jake Soberal, the founders and leaders of the failed Fresno-based start-up company, Bitwise Industries (“Bitwise”), pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Jun 28, 2023 · Employees of Fresno-based Bitwise Industries were officially laid off on June 14 following weeks of uncertainty after financial issues within the company came to light.

Nov 21, 2024 · FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A judge has approved the settlement of a $20 million class action lawsuit brought by former Bitwise employees.

Dec 17, 2024 · FRESNO, Calif. —Jake Soberal, 38, and Irma Olguin, Jr., 44, the founders and leaders of the failed Fresno-based start-up company, Bitwise Industries (“Bitwise”), were sentenced to 11 years and 9 years in prison, respectively, for defrauding people out of approximately $115,000,000, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

6 days ago · FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment on Jan. 30, 2025, that charged David Hardcastle, 61, of Fresno, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and substantive wire fraud for defrauding investors in loans made to the failed Fresno-based startup company Bitwise Industries, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced today.

Bitwise Industries was an American company focused on computer programming instruction, technology sales, and real estate operations. Founded in 2013 by Irma Olguin Jr. and Jake Soberal in Fresno, the company grew to have campuses in additional cities before furloughing its workforce and terminating the co-CEOs in June 2023.

6 days ago · A federal grand injury indicted a Fresno man for allegedly defrauding investors via $20 million in hard money loans to the failed tech startup Bitwise Industries. The grand jury charged David Hardcastle, 61, with six counts involving conspiracy to commit wire fraud and substantive wire fraud.

Dec 17, 2024 · In a packed Fresno courtroom, the disgraced co-founders of Bitwise Industries on Tuesday openly admitted to lying to their employees, investors, families and the community in order to keep a...

Dec 16, 2024 · ORIGINAL STORY: Federal prosecutors will ask a judge on Tuesday to sentence convicted white-collar criminals Jake Soberal and Irma Olguin Jr., founders of the failed Bitwise Industries, to 12.5...

Jun 14, 2023 · Fresno-based Bitwise Industries sold a powerful dream to cities across the Central Valley — places that had been left behind in the digital transformation of the economy.