Shocking Exposé: “Visionary” VC Founder Kia Kazemian Hit With Multiple Default Judgments, Bank Account Seizures, Restraining Orders, And A $70M Federal Lawsuit While Launching New Fund
Kiavash “Kia” Kazemian presents himself as an inspiring immigrant success story: an Iranian-born Baha’i who built a career spanning patents, telecommunications, healthcare, higher education, cybersecurity, and AI.
Author:Suleman ShahReviewer:Han JuApr 15, 20263.6K Shares63.4K Views
Kiavash “Kia” Kazemian presents himself as an inspiring immigrant success story: an Iranian-born Baha’i who built a career spanning patents, telecommunications, healthcare, higher education, cybersecurity, and AI. On LinkedIn and at industry events, he now positions himself as the founder of Leo Ferus Ventures, a fresh seed and pre-seed venture capital firm focused on “defensible technology and intellectual property” — companies with “real, durable” technical edges earned through execution, not hype.
But a detailed Public Due Diligence & Risk Disclosure Notice dated February 8, 2026, backed by verified U.S. court records, reveals a starkly different reality: a pattern of unpaid debts, ignored court proceedings, asset seizures, and personal conduct that has triggered multiple protective orders (restraining orders).
Massive Defaults And Court-Ordered Payments
U.S. court documents show Kazemian defaulted on significant financial obligations:
- In Oriental Bank v. Kiavash Kazemian (Civil No. SJ2023CV09284, Superior Court of San Juan), the bank sued to collect on a personal loan. Served by public notice (edict publication) on February 12, 2024, after he failed to appear, Superior Judge Katarina Stipec Rubio entered a default judgment on April 25, 2024. The court found the debt “liquid, due, and payable” and ordered him to pay $36,068.84 ($33,890.73 principal + accrued interest, late charges, and other fees), plus 9.50% legal interest from the judgment date, costs, and $5,000 in attorney fees. The case advanced to collection and enforcement proceedings.
- In Restauco Leather & Tops Corp. v. Kiavash Kazemian (Civil No. SJ2023CV11568), the company performed repairs and storage on Kazemian’s Porsche. After an alleged ~$14,000 PayPal payment reversal, he again failed to appear. On January 22, 2024, the court entered judgment for $14,452.23 plus $1,000 in attorney fees, with 9.50% interest. A writ of execution (mandamiento) was issued, directing the marshal to seize movable or immovable assets to satisfy the debt. An asset levy order (señalamiento de bienes) targeted his bank accounts at Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, Oriental Bank, and First Bank.
Attachments were carried out on September 3, 2024. Results: only $139.96 was recovered from one bank; the others returned “attempt to collect” with no funds seized. The due diligence notice describes this as part of a “pattern of civil defaults and court-ordered asset enforcement.”
Protective Orders (Restraining Orders) And Service By Publication
Kazemian’s legal troubles extend into personal conduct allegations. Multiple proceedings required service by publication (newspaper) because he could not be located or personally served.
This includes two separate protective order cases (restraining orders):
- Ley 148-2015 (U.S. territory law for the protection of victims of sexual violence, which allows courts to issue protective orders in cases of sexual assault, lascivious acts, sexual harassment, or incest).
- Ley 284 (U.S. territory anti-stalking law, which authorizes restraining orders in cases of stalking or harassment).
The due diligence notice highlights these protective orders as raising serious “governance, reputational, and suitability concerns” related to “bad-actor and harassment-related conduct.”
Federal Lawsuit Seeking $70 Million
Kazemian is also a named defendant in a federal civil action in the United States District Court seeking approximately $70 million in damages for breach of contract and related claims. Continued non-appearance increases the risk of a default judgment and asset restraints.
Launching A VC Firm With No Verifiable Track Record?
Despite these red flags, Kazemian has actively promoted Leo Ferus Ventures, soliciting connections with founders, VCs, and investors. The firm’s thesis emphasizes technically rigorous investments.
However, the February 8, 2026, due diligence notice states clearly: “Kazemian does not possess a verifiable independent venture capital, private equity, or fund management track record.” Any prior investment claims appear to rest on associations rather than deals he personally originated or funded.
The Due Diligence Warning: “Severe” Risk — Disengage Immediately
The notice concludes that the cumulative record presents “severe” material risks and recommends immediate and complete disengagement: block communications, terminate any relationships, and remove all references to Kazemian or Leo Ferus Ventures from public and internal materials.
Key Context: All information is drawn from public U.S. court records and the due diligence notice. Default judgments result from failure to appear and do not equal a full trial on the merits. Some matters are ongoing, and parties are entitled to their defenses. These are civil cases, not criminal convictions. Readers should verify the primary court records directly and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions.
The gap between the polished “immigrant tech entrepreneur” branding and the court-documented pattern of unpaid debts, minimal asset recoveries, repeated evasion of service, protective orders, and a major federal lawsuit is striking — especially as he courts the startup investment community.
For founders, investors, or anyone considering any association with Kia Kazemian or Leo Ferus Ventures, the public record is a loud warning flag.
Suleman Shah
Author
Suleman Shah is a researcher and freelance writer. As a researcher, he has worked with MNS University of Agriculture, Multan (Pakistan) and Texas A & M University (USA). He regularly writes science articles and blogs for science news website immersse.com and open access publishers OA Publishing London and Scientific Times. He loves to keep himself updated on scientific developments and convert these developments into everyday language to update the readers about the developments in the scientific era. His primary research focus is Plant sciences, and he contributed to this field by publishing his research in scientific journals and presenting his work at many Conferences.
Shah graduated from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Pakistan) and started his professional carrier with Jaffer Agro Services and later with the Agriculture Department of the Government of Pakistan. His research interest compelled and attracted him to proceed with his carrier in Plant sciences research. So, he started his Ph.D. in Soil Science at MNS University of Agriculture Multan (Pakistan). Later, he started working as a visiting scholar with Texas A&M University (USA).
Shah’s experience with big Open Excess publishers like Springers, Frontiers, MDPI, etc., testified to his belief in Open Access as a barrier-removing mechanism between researchers and the readers of their research. Shah believes that Open Access is revolutionizing the publication process and benefitting research in all fields.
Han Ju
Reviewer
Hello! I'm Han Ju, the heart behind World Wide Journals. My life is a unique tapestry woven from the threads of news, spirituality, and science, enriched by melodies from my guitar. Raised amidst tales of the ancient and the arcane, I developed a keen eye for the stories that truly matter. Through my work, I seek to bridge the seen with the unseen, marrying the rigor of science with the depth of spirituality.
Each article at World Wide Journals is a piece of this ongoing quest, blending analysis with personal reflection. Whether exploring quantum frontiers or strumming chords under the stars, my aim is to inspire and provoke thought, inviting you into a world where every discovery is a note in the grand symphony of existence.
Welcome aboard this journey of insight and exploration, where curiosity leads and music guides.
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