United Kingdom (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Charlie Javice, founder of the financial aid startup Frank, was sentenced to just over seven years in prison after being convicted of defrauding JPMorgan Chase in a $175 million acquisition. Javice exaggerated user data to persuade the bank, which later deemed the customer base largely fabricated.
Charlie Javice Found Guilty of Fraud in Major Financial Scheme
As reported by Luc Cohen of GVWire, Charlie Javice, 33, was convicted in March 2025 on four counts including bank fraud, securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy for deceiving JPMorgan Chase during the sale of her startup Frank. The sentencing hearing took place in Manhattan federal court and was presided over by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who sentenced Javice to 85 months (7 years and 1 month) in prison.
Despite her guilty verdict, Javice pleaded not guilty during the trial and plans to appeal her conviction.
Background on Frank Startup and JPMorgan Acquisition
Javice founded Frank in 2017 with the mission to simplify college financial aid applications, earning recognition and a spot on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in 2019. The platform attracted JPMorgan Chase, which acquired it for $175 million in September 2021, aiming to tap into Frank’s purported extensive user base.
However, JPMorgan soon discovered discrepancies, finding only about 300,000 legitimate users instead of the 4.25 million claimed by Javice. Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan’s CEO, labelled the purchase a “huge mistake,” reflecting the magnitude of the deception.
Details of the Fraudulent Scheme
Prosecutors presented evidence that Javice fabricated “synthetic data” to bolster user numbers and mislead JPMorgan executives into overvaluing Frank. She collaborated with Frank’s chief growth officer, Olivier Amar, who was also convicted, to manipulate data and conceal the scheme.
Mathematics professor Adam Kapelner testified that he was asked to generate false data but was unaware of the fraud’s full scope at first.
Sentencing and Legal Arguments
Prosecutors had demanded a 12-year sentence, arguing Javice’s scheme caused significant financial damage to JPMorgan. Javice’s defense highlighted her prior good character, her contributions to students through Frank, and called the fraud a “lapse of judgment” not warranting a lengthy prison term.
Judge Hellerstein acknowledged Javice’s “good deeds” but underscored the seriousness of the fraud, stating the sentence aims to deter others from similar crimes.
Emotional Courtroom Moments
During her sentencing hearing, Javice expressed remorse, sobbing as she apologised to JPMorgan, her company’s employees, shareholders, and her family, acknowledging the “collapse of character” that led to the fraud. She requested forgiveness and accepted the judgment with “dignity and humility”.
Co-defendant Sentencing Pending
Frank’s former chief growth officer Olivier Amar, convicted on the same charges, is scheduled for sentencing on October 20, 2025.
Implications for Startup and Financial Industry
This high-profile case has sent shockwaves through the fintech and startup ecosystems, illuminating risks in due diligence during acquisitions and the consequences of falsifying data to inflate valuations.
JPMorgan continues to assess losses and possible restitution claims, though the fraud remains a cautionary tale on verification and transparency.
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