Ex-Yutrade Analyst Roy Kozin Faces 22 Months Prison for Fraud

The Tel Aviv District Court convicted Roy Kozin, former chief analyst at the algorithmic trading firm Yutrade, on multiple counts of aiding in fraud. Kozin pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal, admitting to his role in defrauding approximately 600 clients out of 77 million shekels.

Between 2012 and 2015, Kozin presented false information to clients regarding Yutrade's performance, including fabricated returns on investment. He had access to trading robots and client accounts, and was aware that the reported figures did not reflect actual trading results. In 2015, when Yutrade faced difficulties repaying clients due to unauthorized use of funds for operational expenses, Kozin assisted Yutrade's owner, Aviv Talmor, in securing debt settlement agreements from clients. He misled them about the delays, attributing them to temporary technical issues and withholding information about the company's dire financial state.

Kozin also helped secure agreements from clients for "loss-protected accounts" by promising they would not withdraw funds for 12 months, despite knowing their money was at risk. Talmor was previously convicted of investor fraud, sentenced to five years in prison, and fined 250,000 shekels.

Kozin left Israel shortly after being questioned in 2016. An indictment was filed against him and others in 2018, and efforts were made to locate him. He was arrested in Mexico in July 2025 following an extradition request by the prosecution and was extradited to Israel in January 2026 to face charges. The investigation was conducted by the Israel Securities Authority.