Apopka Commissioner Nick Nesta, who finished first in last week’s mayoral election, disclosed Monday that he represented Christopher Delgado in real estate transactions before the former Orlando cryptocurrency CEO was accused of running a $328 million Ponzi scheme. Nesta, who faces Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore in an April 14 runoff, explained his professional relationship with Delgado in a Facebook post after questions circulated about their connection.
“As part of my work in real estate, I represented Christopher Delgado to buy and sell homes through normal arms-length transactions,” Nesta wrote on Facebook. “Like any home purchase, those sales were completed through licensed lenders and required full lender approval of the home loans.” Nesta, owner of Nesta Real Estate Consultants, emphasized he never invested money with Delgado nor had other financial ties to him.
Federal authorities say Delgado’s company, Goliath Ventures, defrauded investors of at least $328 million, with Delgado using other people’s money to purchase four residential properties worth between $1.15 million and $8.5 million each. An August 1 Instagram post by Nesta’s real estate business showed involvement in the sale of a $3.2 million, six-bedroom Winter Park home that prosecutors say Delgado bought with investors’ funds. Property records show Delgado purchased the home one day before the social media post was made.
“SOLD - Congratulations to our buyers, official new owners of this stunning estate,” the Instagram post read, though it did not identify the buyers by name. Delgado owns a home in Apopka, where he is registered to vote, and federal authorities described him as an Apopka resident when announcing his arrest. Nesta also acknowledged that Delgado had donated to one of his prior campaigns but did not specify which campaign or the donation amount.
Nesta won approximately 42% of the vote in Tuesday’s election, while Moore received about 32% and will advance to the runoff against him. Incumbent Mayor Bryan Nelson, who received about 27% of the vote and was eliminated, endorsed Moore as his successor Monday. Nesta said in his Facebook post that he wanted to address questions about his relationship with Delgado and that his opponents wanted to use the relationship against him.
“Complaints on Delgado go back to 2023,” Moore wrote on Facebook Monday morning above a link to a news column about the accused fraudster. “For me they go back to 2022 while he was donating $1,000 checks to schools. It was highly suspicious.” Moore did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday afternoon but had previously expressed concerns about Delgado’s activities.
Delgado entered local politics in 2022 when he spent more than $100,000 on a campaign to unseat Moore from the Orange County Commission, according to campaign finance records. Moore said he rarely attended campaign forums and finished third in that race. “He got 5,000 votes,” Moore wrote. “More importantly, I grieve for those who lost their life savings.”
The mayoral race has focused on key issues including city charter amendments, growth management, affordable housing, and infrastructure improvements. “The biggest thing here is going from a strong mayor for our government to a managerial form of government,” Nesta said in a previous interview. “The residents wanted this on the ballot and I’ve always stood behind what the residents want.”
Moore expressed caution about the proposed managerial form of government, citing recent administrative instability. “I am deeply concerned about this one because this board has had five managers over the past seven and a half years, and in the last three years they haven’t been able to agree upon a full-time manager,” she said. Both candidates have discussed balancing development pressures with resident needs as Apopka continues growing.
The April 14 runoff election will determine Apopka’s next mayor, with early voting and polling information available through the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website.