CryptoProgram promoter Scott Alexander Morris has settled a defamation lawsuit filed by Brandon Williams, owner of the Ponzi Patrol YouTube channel.

Morris is known to BehindMLM as a serial promoter of fraudulent MLM investment schemes. These include, by Morris’ own admission, COTPS, Intelligence Prime Capital, Aufin, AladdinBot, Maxpread and CryptoProgram.

Williams filed suit against Morris (right), a sixty-eight year old Florida resident, on September 24th, 2024.

In retaliation for documenting Morris’ promotion of fraudulent MLM schemes, Williams claims Morris engaged in “a prolonged campaign of threats, harassment and intimidation”, during which he made “a series of malicious, defamatory, and false statements”.

This is an action for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) resulting from [Morris’] repeated public statements falsely accusing Plaintiff of criminal activities, fraud, and immoral conduct, as well as issuing threats of violence, sharing private contact information (referred to as “doxxing” hereinafter), and encouraging others to harass Plaintiff.

[Morris] was motivated by his desire to protect his fraudulent financial schemes.

By discrediting Plaintiff, [Morris] sought to maintain his reputation among his followers and prevent further exposure of his activities for financial gain.

The claims Morris made against Williams are typical of what scammers come up with to deflect criticism of their fraudulent activity. I’ll let Morris’ actions speak for themselves, as recounted by Williams in his Complaint;

In a YouTube video published to one of [Morris’] public Telegram groups, [Morris] further falsely accused Plaintiff of engaging in pedophilia.

On or around May 27, 2024, [Morris stated publicly:

“Somebody sent me a picture of Brandon making out with a young boy… I don’t know if this is photoshopped or if it’s real, but this is not something I want to participate in.

But if you think it’s real I think you should take it to your local law enforcement… There’s something that could be coming Brandon’s way…

Those are the kinds of things that you can, sort of, that happen to you when you start saying horrible things about people that aren’t true and that you can’t substantiate.”

In the same video, [Morris] further doxxed Plaintiff by publicly posting Plaintiff’s private phone number and encouraging his followers to harass Plaintiff.

[Morris] stated:

I’ll leave Ponzi Patrol’s phone number in the description if you want to call him and say hi. Tell him I said hi too.

On or around September 26, 2023, [Morris] publicly shared Plaintiff’s personal information, including Plaintiff’s full name, mailing address, email address, and phone number, in a post made within the “FIRETEAM1 AMS” Telegram group.

In the same post, [Morris] encouraged others to “send him presents” to Plaintiff’s address, a clear attempt to incite harassment.

On or around September 15, 2024, [Morris] falsely stated in one of his Telegram groups that Plaintiff’s real name is not Brandon Williams.

On multiple occasions, Defendant has publicly threatened Plaintiff with baseless lawsuits in retaliation for Plaintiff’s exposure of Defendant’s fraudulent schemes.

For example, sometime in 2023, or early 2024, Defendant publicly stated on Telegram to his group of followers and the public that he intended to “bury [Plaintiff] in legal filings” as a means of harassment and intimidation.

On or around July 18, 2024, Defendant Scott Morris publicly announced in his Telegram group “FIRETEAM1 StableTrading,” … that he was launching a website called “Ponzi Faggot Patrol.”

Defendant specifically stated:

“I WILL BE STARTING A CLUB CALLED PONZI FAGGOT PATROL.

Next week you will be able to join by going to PonziFaggotPatrol.com. We will have Merch featuring our favorite faggot, Pillows in the shape of an ASSHOLE, Butt Plugs with his face on them, and an assortment of other fun stuff to choose from.”

Morris also targeted the Ponzi Patrol YouTube channel, filing false copyright strikes on at least one video.

Williams alleges Morris “has a documented history of threatening others with baseless legal action dating back to 2006”.

Williams claims Morris’ conduct breached his safety, the safety of his family and, on one occasion, instigated a panic attack required medical intervention.

In addition to suing Morris, Williams states he filed criminal complaints with the FBI and Fernandina Beach Police Department. Williams is also a whistleblower in a purported ongoing SEC investigation into Morris’ conduct.

The case progressed throughout the first half of 2025. On May 1st, 2025, Williams filed a notice documenting Morris’ abusive conduct during proceedings.

On March 19, 2025, after Plaintiff sent a professional email to Defendant to clarify where Defendant would like to accept service or court documents, Defendant responded with:

EAT SHIT ASSHOLE. I DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHAT YOU DO, BUT I’M ENJOYING WATCHING YOU MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF. YOU DON’T NEED ANY HELP FROM ME.

On April 22nd, 2025, Defendant sent a series of harassing and unprofessional messages.

On that date, Defendant incorrectly accused Plaintiff of wasting his time and the court’s time by “Not showing up for the deposition [Plaintiff] scheduled”.

Plaintiff attempted to clarify that the case was stayed, and also extended a good faith offer to discuss the case and explore resolution options.

In response, Defendant sent the following messages, including but not limited to:

“EAT SHIT ASSHOLE; I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT BULLSHIT MOTION TO THE COURT…”

“FUCK OFF, EAT SHIT, CONTINUE LOSING…”

“YOU ARE A PATHETIC PIECE OF DETRITUS…”

“YOU WILL ANSWER TO THE COURT ASSHOLE.”

On May 1,2025, after Plaintiff sent a professional message via Telegram to notify Defendant that court-ordered discovery documents had been sent by email, Defendant responded with homophobic slurs, profanity, and personal insults.

These are the messages:

-I’m just messaging you to notify you to take your faggot ass and eat shit. You are a laughing stock. A minor ego victory you won this morning, nothing more. You are a fool.

On March 18th, 2025, a Telegram account bearing Defendant’s name and likeness publicly posted details of court-ordered mediation between the parties.

The post included:

-Verbatim content from confidential settlement discussions known only to Plaintiff, [Morris], [Morris’] Attorney, and the mediator;

-A photograph of [Morris], taken inside the office of his former legal counsel.

-How old were you when you discovered you were a faggot?

That same day, May 1, 2025, Plaintiff sent Defendant a follow-up email outlining discovery deadlines and reattaching materials as instructed by the Court. Defendant again responded with vulgar and abusive language.

The message from Defendant was:

FUCK YOU BITCH, COWARD, LOSER, FAGGOT.

Williams’ case proceeded towards trial, scheduled for April 20th, 2026.

Then, following a mediation session held on October 29th, a joint motion to dismiss was filed on November 6th.

A Mediator’s Report confirms a settlement agreement was reached on October 29th, the details of which are confidential.

What I can confirm is that Williams has removed at least one video from the Ponzi Patrol YouTube channel featuring Morris. On or around November 9th, Morris marked remaining videos on his Fireteam1 YouTube channel as private.

Our last chapter in Williams’ defamation lawsuit is video footage of Morris’ deposition, taken on September 4th, 2025.

In said deposition, Morris represents Williams has claimed $300,000 in damages. It’s unclear whether any money changed hands as part of the reached settlement.

Morris’ deposition runs in at four hours and thirty-one minutes. Williams was deposed the following day but without a videographer. Williams claims he doesn’t have a copy of the recording of his deposition.

Both Williams and Morris appeared at Morris’ deposition pro se (they represented themselves), with Williams personally confronting Morris with his conduct.

On Morris defaming people (note timestamps pertain to the recording, not YouTube);

[10:34:21] Williams: Have you ever been sued for defamation?

Morris: Yes.

Williams: Who sued you?

[Morris’ former bankruptcy attorney]

Williams: Why did he sue you specifically?

Morris: For defamation.

Williams: Did you create a website about him?

Morris: Yes.

Williams: What was the outcome of that defamation case against you?

Morris: I lost.

Williams: Do you recall what the judgment was against you?

Morris: I think it was $118,000.

Morris confirms he did not pay the judgment.

In another exhibit, former real-estate business partners obtaining a $100,000 judgment against Morris is shown. Morris claims he doesn’t recall the nature of the case.

On an alleged prior conviction in Texas;

[10:38:21] Williams: Were you convicted of a felony in Texas in 1998?

Morris: No.

[Williams reminds Morris that he is under oath]

Williams: Have you ever received an order of non-disclosure from [the] Texas government, for Texas government code 411.071, related to a felony offense?

Morris: I object.

[Morris requests someone off-camera “get the judge”]

Williams: [So] you’re refusing to answer?

Morris: I’ll answer if the Judge compels me to.

[Judge enters the room]

Morris: Your honor, the Plaintiff asked me a question that I am not permitted to answer.

[Morris hands the judge an envelope and requests the Judge look at the contents]

After inspecting the contents of the envelope, the Judge ruled Morris “doesn’t have to testify further about that”.

For reference, Section 411.071 of the Texas Government Code, as it relates to non-disclosure agreements (section 441.0715), states;

Sec. 411.0715. DEFINITION OF DEFERRED ADJUDICATION COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR PURPOSE OF RECEIVING ORDER OF NONDISCLOSURE.

For purposes of an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information under this subchapter, a person is considered to have been placed on deferred adjudication community supervision if, regardless of the statutory authorization:

(1) the person entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere;

(2) the judge deferred further proceedings without entering an adjudication of guilt and placed the person under the supervision of the court or an officer under the supervision of the court; and

(3) at the end of the period of supervision the judge dismissed the proceedings and discharged the person.

Later in the deposition Morris is confronted with an exhibited email he sent to his former attorney, wherein Morris admits he “pleaded guilty to a felony” and received a “felony conviction” in 1998.

When asked about the exhibit, Morris claims he “misspoke” in the email.

Pursuant to his Texas nondisclosure order, what crime(s) Morris pled guilty to remain unknown.

On Morris’ use of derogatory terms to discredit Williams;

[10:46:57] Williams: Do you or your associates have any other names for me that you’ve called me, besides Brandon or Ponzi Patrol?

Morris: You mean like slurs?

Williams: Yes.

Morris: [snickers] Yeah, we’ve called you everything in the book …

Williams: What about “our favorite faggot?”

Morris: Yes, yes, I think I have heard that before.

Williams: Or “Ponzi fag”?

Morris: Yes, that also.

Williams: “Ponzi troll coward”?

Morris: Maybe.

Williams: “Limp-dick pussy”?

Morris: Possibly.

Williams: Why did you call me names like that?

Morris: Because you behave like one.

Williams: Can you elaborate on that?

Morris: No.

Williams: What do you mean “behave like one”?

Morris: You cheat, you’re effeminate, you present yourself in a way that caused people to uh, think of you that way.

Williams: So when you called me a faggot, that was referring to my sexual orientation?

Morris: No. That’s a term I used to use in the Marine Corps for weak people. It’s just a general term, doesn’t have anything to do with your possible sexuality. I don’t think anybody was interested in that.

On Morris being subpoenaed by the SEC to testify in relation to his involvement in CryptoProgram (the CFTC was also present);

[11:50:37] Williams: You were subpoenaed by the SEC in relation to CryptoProgram, right?

Morris: Yes.

Williams: In that video we just watched you said, “What he doesn’t realize is that he himself is under investigation ‘cuz he instigated this whole thing. And you know what? It’s never a good idea to waste the government’s time.” So, who am I under investigation by?

Morris: I don’t know.

Williams: So why did you say that I’m under investigation?

Morris: I believe that when I was at the federal building, I asked the question if I was under investigation. I asked the question if you were under investigation. And that comment there might have been, y’know, referring to something that I had heard or presumed to have heard at the testimony.

Williams: So why did you say that I’m under investigation?

Morris: I believed that you are under investigation.

Williams: Based on what?

Morris: Based on uh, lies that you’ve told about me and other people. Isn’t that what whistleblowers do sometimes, they embellish their case. So I think that you’ve said enough. I’ll just leave it at that, huh.

…

Williams: So your evidence that I’m under investigation is just that you believe it. That’s the only evidence that you have?

Morris: Mhmm.

To date neither the SEC or CFTC have brought charges against CryptoProgram, founder Ed Zimbardi or top promoters like Scott Morris.

During questioning pertaining to his comments about an alleged photo he received of Williams “making out with a young boy” ([13:47:40]), Morris refused to answer questions. The Judge was called in and informed Morris he was permitted to object but had to answer the question.

In a nutshell, Morris danced around why he’d suggested the purportedly anonymous person who’d sent him the photo should go to the police if the boy in the photo wasn’t underage.

On Morris promoting Ponzi schemes;

[15:20:33] (Exhibit recording of Scott Morris): You guys know that some of us made millions of dollars in IPC (Intelligence Prime Capital), COTP, FastBNB and all that other nonsense. 

We knew going in they were Ponzi schemes. But there are ways to capitalize on Ponzi schemes where you make money.

And one way you do that is you gotta get in early, you’ve gotta get in big and then you gotta get out.

Williams: Do you agree that in this video you said that you knew going in that they were Ponzi schemes.

Morris: I did. I said that.

Williams: So have you ever knowingly participated in promoting scams or Ponzi schemes?

Morris: Actually, no … I suppose there are some things that are obviously Ponzi schemes.

Williams: So in that video, you said “you knew going in they were Ponzi schemes.” That means that you knew going into it that it was a Ponzi scheme. Correct?

Morris: I think I uh, I think I was inartful in the way I articulated that. I think that probably if I had to do it over again I would say something like, “a lot of the programs that we’ve gotten involved in are probably or could be Ponzi schemes.” But I wouldn’t say that all those programs I knew were Ponzi schemes, when I got into them.

I believe that IPC, COTP and FastBNB were Ponzi schemes but, really, mostly after the fact.

Williams: But you said you knew going in …

Morris: Yes, I said that. I said that. Alright? That’s a word. I misspoke.

Williams: If someone knowingly promotes and profits off a Ponzi scheme, would you consider that fraudulent?

Morris: No. Not if you tell people that this is a Ponzi scheme and here’s how we manage it. There’s nothing fraudulent about that, it’s solely transparent.

Williams: What if a person promoted a Ponzi scheme while promoting it as a legitimate business?

Morris: Not necessarily.

Under US financial law  there is no carve out in the Securities and Exchange Act permitting fraud if a defendant openly admits fraud prior to committing said fraud.

[15:26:29] (Exhibit recording of Scott Morris): Hi and Welcome to the Fireteam1 YouTube channel. My name is Scott Morris.

This channel is dedicated to passive income and trading programs. And what I do here is, I try to help people understand how these passive income and trading programs work, so they can capitalize and make money.

Now to give you an example, there are three programs that come to mind that I have been involved in recently. One was FastBNB, one was IPC, Intelligence Prime Capital, and the other one, most recently, was COTP.

Now all of these collapsed and many people look at that and say, “Oh they were scams. I’m not gonna get involved in any of those scams.”

And, they were indeed scams, or pyramids, or y’know, some such thing. But then why do people like me make piles of money in them, and other people lose money?

Well I know why that happens and what I endeavor to do on this channel is teach people how to make money in them.

‘Cuz they’re not gonna go away. They’re gonna stick around for a long, long time. We’re gonna be getting in and out of them all the time …

Williams: So Mr. Morris, do you teach others how to make money in pyramid schemes or scams on your YouTube channel?

Morris: Uh, no.

On Morris being questioned about a CryptoProgram victim allegedly committing suicide;

[14:15:56] Williams: If the lady who refinanced her home and committed suicide would have listened to me instead of you, she may be alive still right?

Morris: I don’t know if that person was in my group. I don’t think she was in my group. I think that was an urban legend. I don’t know that that’s true.

Williams: It is true that you said that out publicly, correct?

Morris: I’ve heard the story. You are the one that brought that up I believe.

Morris acknowledges that prior to its collapse, he was earning around $100,000 per month in CryptoProgram referral commissions.

[15:53:14] Williams: You made two different videos, one with Garry Wood and one with Jay Offner, showing people how they can “play in a bigger game” by taking out loans, tapping into their IRAs and accessing money from credit cards, to invest in CryptoProgram, right?

Morris: Object to form, relevance. Has nothing to do with your stupid case. And I have no idea how these two things connect.

Williams: Did you make those two videos that I’m referencing here or not?

Morris: Yes.

To the best of my knowledge, Morris has not publicly expressed any remorse towards victims he recruited into various fraudulent investment schemes.

As at the time of his deposition in September 2025, Morris claims he hasn’t promoted a “passive income program in over a year”.