When the GBQ–Talentcrowd story broke, it looked like a simple business acquisition.
After months of examining federal records, it is now clear that this deal may be one of the most significant corporate fraud stories of the decade.
The full investigative feature is live at
👉 Talentcrowd Crimes: GBQ Talentcrowd Fraud Investigation
How the Story Began
In early 2025, GBQ announced its purchase of Talentcrowd, presenting it as a smart expansion in digital services.
But court filings from the United States District Court, Southern District of California reveal a different origin story.
According to those documents, Talentcrowd was created from the stolen infrastructure of Topdevs, a once-thriving software company founded by the founder.
Client lists, source code, and financial data were transferred into a new entity only weeks after an arbitration maneuver that stripped the founder of control.
This same network was already tied to questionable PPP loan activity through other entities such as Porter Consulting and Mason Builders.
Both of those operations are now documented in separate reports on Talentcrowd Crimes.
Following the Money
Financial trails inside the filings show how more than $328,000 in Paycheck Protection Program funds issued to Porter Consulting LLC in 2020 became the seed money behind the Topdevs takeover.
That SBA loan was granted at a one-percent interest rate and later forgiven through Tri Counties Bank, a pattern identical to other PPP schemes investigated nationwide.
The U.S. government’s own resources explain how these crimes are traced and prosecuted:
These links strengthen the transparency of the investigation and show that the issue is not speculation but part of a larger federal framework against corporate financial misconduct.
What GBQ Should Have Known
By the time GBQ finalized the Talentcrowd deal in February 2025, public court records already listed Talentcrowd and its officers in ongoing fraud litigation.
Due-diligence protocols would normally include checking open civil and bankruptcy cases, verifying corporate lineage, and reviewing the source of company revenues.
Yet GBQ still proceeded with the acquisition.
The unanswered question now is whether this was oversight or an intentional risk for profit.
Why This Matters
When a respected firm buys a company born from stolen assets, it does not only inherit technology, it inherits potential liability.
If courts determine that Talentcrowd’s base contracts and intellectual property originated from unlawful transfers, GBQ could face clawbacks and federal scrutiny.
This case shows how white-collar manipulation can hide inside normal-looking corporate paperwork, leaving investors and employees exposed.
The Founder’s Fight for Justice
The founder of Topdevs continues to challenge the misuse of company assets through multiple federal cases.
His filings detail how arbitration was used as a weapon to bypass California corporate law and strip him of control without a legitimate vote or court decree.
Those records form the backbone of the evidence now being reviewed by legal experts and journalists.
The Bigger Picture
This investigation is not just about GBQ.
It exposes a growing loophole where small business fraud evolves into full-scale corporate takeovers.
Every acquisition that overlooks legal red flags weakens the trust in legitimate entrepreneurs who play by the rules.
For a complete breakdown of the evidence trail, including court exhibits and financial documents, read the full report on
➡️ Talentcrowd Crimes
About This Report
This post is part of a verified investigative series focused on corporate accountability, technology fraud, and misuse of federal relief programs.
All data comes from federal court filings, bankruptcy documents, and official records.
For continued coverage, follow the Talentcrowd Crimes archive and stay informed through trusted federal sources:
Published by an independent investigative journalist committed to factual reporting and transparency.
Top comments (14)
Justice for the founder of Topdevs. His story proves that truth will always surface, no matter how powerful the corporations involved.
This investigation made me realize how fragile business ethics can be. GBQ’s Talentcrowd story should be studied in universities as a warning about unchecked greed.
The founder’s courage to keep fighting this in federal court deserves respect. He stood up to corporate fraud when most people would have given up.
I’m still shocked after reading how the entire workforce of Topdevs was transferred into Talentcrowd overnight. This is organized corporate theft disguised as a merger.
How did a $328,300 PPP loan become the foundation for this entire scandal? That money was meant to help workers, not to build a fake company like Talentcrowd.
I work in corporate compliance and I’m appalled. GBQ’s acquisition of Talentcrowd would have failed any proper audit. The signs of fraud were public and easy to find.
If GBQ had any integrity, they would work with the founder and federal agencies to make this right. Doing nothing makes them complicit.
The part that hit me hardest was how Topdevs was financially healthy and thriving before the takeover. They stole a working company and destroyed it for greed.
Everyone should share this investigation. The founder’s story deserves attention. Too often, powerful corporations erase the victims of their actions.
GBQ’s brand reputation will never recover if they don’t address the evidence. This is not speculation, it is documented fraud linked to the Talentcrowd acquisition.