Steve Ballmer blasts founder he backed who pleaded guilty to fraud: ‘I was duped and feel silly’

Joseph Sanberg, co-founder of fintech startup Aspiration Partners, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and defrauding multiple investors and lenders. The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that Sanberg falsified financial records to obtain $145 million in loans and made the company appear as if it had a steady stream of customers and revenue. Sanberg's investors, including tech celebrities, lost money and were allegedly defrauded by fabricated financial information.