Lindani Mangena, once dubbed a “modern-day Moses” and previously convicted for a $4 million fraud targeting churchgoers in the UK, has allegedly resurfaced under the name “Daniel” Mangena, now accused of operating a Ponzi scheme as a life coach in the United States.
Mangena, who served seven years in a UK prison for swindling at least 1,000 parishioners from Seventh Day Adventist congregations in London, is now facing fresh allegations of fraud. A lawsuit filed on October 10 in New York State Supreme Court by real estate brokers Paul Gavriani and Vince Falcone claims Mangena has stolen nearly $1 million from them and an “untold” number of others unaware of his criminal history.
The lawsuit details how Gavriani first encountered Mangena in October 2020 through a podcast interview. Mangena, who frequently appears on finance webcasts, claims to have helped hundreds generate passive income through investments in “unsexy businesses.” Gavriani, approaching retirement, paid $4,000 for initiation and $1,000 monthly for coaching sessions.
According to the suit, Mangena proposed an “Ideal Life Blueprint” for Gavriani, involving investments in a Facebook e-commerce store selling fishing lures and inhalers. After Gavriani invested $70,000, the venture reportedly failed. Mangena then allegedly convinced Gavriani to invest in a textbook arbitrage scheme on Amazon and to provide “bridge loans” to other coaching clients, totaling around $400,000.
The lawsuit claims these investments were part of a Ponzi scheme, with payments eventually dwindling or stopping altogether. When confronted, Mangena allegedly berated Gavriani, claiming he was interrupting a meeting with billionaire Richard Branson.
Mangena, now 40 and reportedly living abroad, denies running a Ponzi scheme. He told The Independent he plans to repay the funds when financially able and blames his accusers for his current financial troubles. Multiple court filings in New York show claims of non-payment against Mangena, including a default judgment in a federal case.
