Yes, anything you are promoting/selling creates a liability for you and paints a target on your back. Specially Ponzi schemes

See on SEC website on Ponzi schemes promoters:

https://www.sec.gov/fast-answers/answersponzihtm.html

See cases of Ponzi promoters in US being sued , extradited, imprisoned and ordered to pay:

http://www.wbur.org/news/2017/05/26/telexfree-promoter-order
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-ponzi-jack-utsick-20141208-story.html
https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/columbia/press-releases/2009/co111909.htm