Battle Over a Crypto Investment Gone Wrong
An heiress from one of Canada’s wealthiest families is embroiled in a legal dispute with her former best friend, who is now reportedly an Uber driver and representing herself in court. The conflict arose after an ill-fated cryptocurrency investment, allegedly influenced by the guidance of two psychics, resulted in a staggering loss of $80 million. Taylor Thomson, 66, a member of the affluent Thomson family, and Ashley Richardson, 47, a former affluent Californian mother, shared a close friendship that began in 2009 at a Malibu house party. However, their relationship took a turn for the worse in 2022 when they invested in a cryptocurrency that subsequently plummeted in value.
Allegations and Accusations
Thomson has accused Richardson of executing risky trades without her knowledge and claims that her friend was primarily interested in her wealth. In contrast, Richardson has denied these accusations, asserting that Thomson is responsible for the breakdown of their friendship and her current financial struggles. In a heartfelt message, Richardson expressed her despair, stating, “Because of you, I have lost everything, and you decided to sue the person who had nothing left to lose. I loved you more than anything.”
A Friendship Deteriorates
Throughout their more than 12-year friendship, Richardson was a staunch supporter of Thomson, even assisting her in moving her cherished chickens from Bel Air to Hollywood, as revealed in their communications. Sources close to the situation indicate that Thomson, whose family is ranked among the world’s wealthiest, has had difficulty trusting others and exhibited aggressive behavior when she sensed threats to her financial security. This behavior included hiring a convicted private investigator to spy on a former nanny during a custody dispute, as documented in court records.
Psychics and Cryptocurrency
Despite Thomson’s alleged vindictive tendencies, Richardson claimed she endeavored to shield Thomson from those she viewed as “Takers,” individuals seeking to exploit her wealth. Ironically, Richardson herself was labeled as one of these “Takers” following their unsuccessful cryptocurrency venture in 2021. After the pandemic, Richardson became engrossed in the predictions of a celebrity psychic who encouraged her followers to invest in an upcoming crypto token named Persistence. Following this recommendation, Richardson approached Thomson, who then sought advice from her own psychic.
Hefty Investments and Consequences
After receiving positive validation from her psychic, both women began making substantial investments in the Persistence token. Richardson reportedly invested most of her savings, while Thomson contributed over $40 million. Richardson contends that Thomson became overly enthusiastic about the investment and attempted to persuade her to allocate an additional $60 million after initial successes. Meanwhile, Thomson communicated her frustrations to her brothers, who manage a significant portion of the family fortune, accusing them of limiting her investment opportunities in the cryptocurrency space.
Market Collapse and Legal Fallout
When the cryptocurrency market crashed in 2022, Richardson reportedly lost everything, while Thomson felt betrayed and sought legal counsel to recuperate her losses. She subsequently filed a lawsuit against both Richardson and the crypto project, claiming at least $25 million in damages for their alleged role in luring her into the investment as a “whale,” or large investor. Thomson and Persistence reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount, but Richardson continues to contest Thomson’s claims in court.
Trade Controversies and Financial Hardships
According to Bradley Dizik, president of a consulting firm, Richardson executed an astonishing 450,000 trades with Thomson’s funds in the first half of 2022, many of which were unauthorized and high-risk. Dizik asserts that Thomson suffered a loss exceeding $80 million due to Richardson’s involvement. In her defense, Richardson maintains that she never acted without Thomson’s consent and always aimed to mitigate losses. Currently, she is earning a living as an Uber driver, has applied for food assistance, and is facing challenges in managing her dog and the legal ramifications from both the cryptocurrency collapse and Thomson’s lawsuit.
Counterclaims and Escalating Tensions
In response to the lawsuit, Richardson has filed a countersuit for $10 million, alleging that Thomson has defamed her through her accusations. Thomson’s representatives have denied all allegations, including one in which Richardson claimed that Thomson made an inappropriate advance during a 2019 trip to British Columbia. Their final exchanges have been tumultuous, with Richardson reportedly lashing out at Thomson, calling her a “rich motherf—ing sociopathic b—,” and expressing feelings of devastation, saying, “Please, you have destroyed me.”
