For years, Ben Pasternak was the golden boy of the tech world, a high-school dropout who moved from Sydney to Manhattan to become what many called the “next Mark Zuckerberg.” But this week, that carefully curated image of a visionary entrepreneur shattered. On April 21, 2026, the 26-year-old founder of the plant-based nugget empire Simulate was arrested and charged with the felony strangulation of his former girlfriend, the globally recognized social media star Evelyn Ha.

The arrest is the climax of a turbulent period for Pasternak, who is currently embroiled in a $54 million fraud lawsuit and was allegedly using one of New York’s most exclusive hotels as a hideout from creditors and legal process servers.

A Violent Night at the Baccarat

The details of the alleged assault, which took place on March 31, 2026, read like a scene from a thriller. According to the criminal complaint filed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Pasternak and Ha were staying at the Baccarat Hotel on West 53rd Street—a luxury establishment where suites can exceed $2,000 per night.

The situation reportedly turned violent when Ha, 27, attempted to film Pasternak on her smartphone during a heated argument. Prosecutors allege that Pasternak lunged at Ha, squeezing her neck with both hands to the point where she experienced “difficulty breathing, redness, and intense pain.” The filing further claims that Pasternak repeatedly slammed a door on Ha as she attempted to move through the suite, causing “substantial bruising” to both of her arms and her hips.

Ha, who boasts over 4 million subscribers on YouTube, later sought medical treatment for her injuries. In a subsequent video shared with her followers, she confirmed the end of the relationship, stating she had to leave “for the sake of my safety and my wellbeing.”

Legal Battles and the “Hiding” Allegations

Pasternak was arraigned on one felony count of second-degree strangulation and two counts of third-degree assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defense attorney, Josh Kirshner, presented a starkly different version of events to the court, characterizing Evelyn Ha as the “aggressor” and claiming that Pasternak’s actions were purely “lawful self-defense.”

However, the prosecution introduced a compelling motive for Pasternak’s presence at the Baccarat. They allege he was not there for a vacation, but was “hiding out” to avoid being served with a $54 million class-action lawsuit filed on March 23. This civil suit targets his cryptocurrency venture, Believe (formerly Clout), which has been accused of orchestrating a massive “rug pull” scheme. Investors claim Pasternak made fraudulent promises of buybacks and zero insider ownership while processing $6 billion in volume, only for the token to crash by 99%.

The Ha Sisters and the Influencer Powerhouse

The victim in the case, Evelyn Ha, is far more than just a bystander in the tech world. As the eldest of the famous Ha Sisters, she and her siblings, Erica and Emily, have built a digital empire centered on Korean-American lifestyle content, comedy, and relatability.

Evelyn’s influence spans across platforms, with nearly 10 million combined followers on TikTok and YouTube. Known for her “cool older sister” persona, she has balanced her influencer career with professional roles in marketing and project management, recently working as a Product Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). Her fans have flooded her comments with support, many shocked by the allegations against a man who was frequently featured in her content as a supportive partner.

Simulate: The Rise of the “Tesla of Chicken”

To understand the shock of Pasternak’s arrest, one must look at his meteoric rise. At 15, he created Impossible Rush, an app that topped the charts globally. By 18, he had founded Simulate, a company that treated food like software.

His flagship product, NUGGS, wasn’t just a vegan nugget; it was a “beta version” of a protein source. Pasternak would release updates—NUGGS 1.3, NUGGS 2.0—based on user data and feedback. This disruptive approach attracted massive investment from the likes of Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian, Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners, and McCain Foods. By 2021, Simulate was valued at $250 million and stocked in Walmart and Target aisles nationwide.

The company was eventually sold in October 2024 to Ahimsa Companies, marking the end of Pasternak’s tenure as the “nugget king” and his pivot into the volatile world of decentralized finance (DeFi) with his platform, Believe.

What Lies Ahead

As of now, Pasternak has been released on his own recognizance. He is required to remain in New York as he awaits his next court appearance, scheduled for June 11, 2026.

The case has become a lightning rod for discussions regarding the “prodigy culture” of Silicon Valley and the personal lives of high-stakes entrepreneurs. If convicted of the felony strangulation charge, Pasternak could face significant prison time, a far cry from the luxury hotels and billion-dollar boardrooms he once frequented.