A good way to locate a CPA is to see who other Ponzi victim members use and perhaps choose from that list.
Generally speaking, you'd want to be in touch with other victims. There is much evolving info regarding safe harbor qualification (criminal action, "ponzi-like" status from some gov branch, year of discovery (when did who know what? I waited until SEC's Ponzi-like document per safe harbor), class actions, and bankruptcy receivership.
Year of discovery is rather important IF you have to line up large income to offset against. I knew a victim who was a CPA and took the most aggressive timeline on the very first phone call he got on the loss. It was was at year end and was useful to offset his large real estate gains in that particular year.
My case was Aequitas. $600M Ponzi case. Was a good private equity for many years but got greedy and took high risks. Started courting small financial advisors to draw in more investments. SEC brought case against the principles and issued letter stating "ponzi-like" satisfying IRS Ponzi safe harbor guidelines clearly.
- Biggest recovery (56% of loss) was class action against auditor (Deloitte)
- Receivership (bankruptcy asset recovery) was 2nd (29% of loss)
- Small recovery ( 5% of loss) from smaller lawyers chasing small financial advisors for the victim group. These recoveries are from advisory firm's business insurance and legal defense fees draws against the max insurance payout so victim lawyers are motivated to settle quickly.
