From Staff Reports
In Summary:
Nick Nesta said his dealings with Delgado were limited to standard real estate transactions and denied any financial involvement beyond those sales. Federal authorities allege Delgado orchestrated a $328 million Ponzi scheme through his company, Goliath Ventures. Christine Moore, Nesta’s runoff opponent, criticized the connection and raised concerns about its implications for voters.
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A new Orlando Sentinel report detailing Nick Nesta’s real estate dealings with an accused cryptocurrency fraudster is drawing responses from both campaigns as the Apopka mayoral race heads to an April 14 runoff.
The Sentinel, in its Monday edition, reported that Apopka City Commissioner and mayoral candidate Nick Nesta represented Christopher Delgado in real estate transactions. Delgado is an Apopka resident and a cryptocurrency executive accused by federal authorities of orchestrating a $328 million Ponzi scheme. The Sentinel report comes just six days after the March 10th election, in which Nesta finished first, advancing to the April 14 runoff.
In a statement posted to his campaign Facebook page, Nesta said his role was limited to standard real estate transactions conducted in the normal course of his business.
“As part of my work in real estate, I represented Christopher Delgado to buy and sell homes through normal arms-length transactions,” Nesta said. “Like any home purchase, those sales were completed through licensed lenders and required full lender approval of the home loans.”
Nesta also confirmed that Delgado had donated to one of his prior campaigns, but emphasized there were no further financial ties.
“I want to be very clear: I have never invested with Christopher Delgado, I have never participated in any cryptocurrency ventures with him, and I have never had any financial involvement with him beyond those standard real estate transactions,” he said.
He framed the issue as politically motivated, adding that opponents were attempting to use the connection to shift focus away from city issues.
“Unfortunately, my opponents are now attempting to use this information during the campaign to distract from the real issues facing our city,” Nesta said. “Politics can be tough, but my commitment will always remain the same: serve the community and lead with integrity.”
According to the Sentinel article, Delgado, whose company, Goliath Ventures, is accused of defrauding investors while funding a lavish lifestyle that included multiple luxury home purchases. One of those homes — a $3.2 million property in Winter Park — was linked to Nesta’s real estate business through social media posts and property records cited in the report. The article also notes that Delgado has local ties to Apopka, where he is registered to vote, and that he previously donated to one of Nesta’s campaigns and publicly supported his 2024 City Commission run.
Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore, Nesta’s opponent in the runoff, issued a response following the Sentinel’s report, raising concerns about both the timing of the revelations and the broader impact of Delgado’s alleged actions.
“My team recently began looking into the Chris Delgado Ponzi Scheme and its financial impact for Apopka and Central Florida residents who were scammed,” Moore said in an email to The Apopka Voice. “The Delgado indictment became public right before the March 10 Mayoral Election. Thus, my team is just now learning about Cmsr. Nesta's involvement as Delgado's acquisition broker.”
Moore also referenced her 2022 political race against Delgado.
“Additionally, it is notable that I faced off and defeated Delgado in my re-election bid in 2022,” she said. “As I recollect, Delgado paid fake supporters for a campaign kick-off, refused to attend debates and endorsement sessions, and donated this ill-gotten money to local nonprofits, friendly to my candidacy. I’m deeply disturbed to discover Mr. Nesta’s involvement with an indicted Ponzi schemer, who caused so much harm to Central Florida families.”
The article comes less than a week after a historic election in Apopka in which Nesta led the field with about 42% of the vote, followed by Moore at roughly 32%. Incumbent Mayor Bryan Nelson finished third and did not qualify for the runoff.
Moore shared the article on her campaign Facebook page and added the following statement:
“What a terrible lack of judgment displayed by Nesta. He represented Delgado as the buyer for three multi-million dollar homes. Did Nesta recruit this fraudster to run against me in 2022, then ask me to mentor him in the Neighborhood Leader Program? So much doesn’t add up with Nick Nesta.”
Key Points:
- Orlando Sentinel reports Nesta represented Christopher Delgado in real estate deals
- Nesta says transactions were routine and denies financial involvement beyond brokerage work
- Delgado accused of running a $328 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme
- Moore criticizes Nesta’s connection and questions his judgment
- Story emerges days after the March 10 election sends the race to an April 14 runoff
