Federal prosecutors say a Temple Terrace startup story has taken a hard left turn.
On May 26, 2026, an indictment was unsealed accusing tech CEO Meade Lewis of raising more than $7 million from investors through false claims about his startup’s finances, customers and products. Lewis, 32, the founder and CEO of mIQroTech Inc., is charged with five counts of wire fraud, and prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of roughly $7,096,458. The indictment also alleges Lewis used some investor funds for personal expenses.
As reported by Tampa Bay 28, the indictment claims Lewis misled investors about mIQroTech’s financial performance and business operations while raising money for technology marketed to the oil-and-gas industry. Prosecutors are pursuing five wire-fraud counts and have filed a forfeiture claim tied to the allegedly ill-gotten investor proceeds.
About mIQroTech
According to the company’s website, mIQroTech markets an AI- and sensor-driven pipeline-monitoring system called mIQroAware and lists Tampa as its base of operations. The site also publishes press contact emails and a phone number and describes the product as designed to detect leaks, corrosion and other pipeline risks in real time.
Legal penalties and next steps
Wire-fraud convictions can carry heavy penalties: under Legal Information Institute, a defendant can face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. An indictment is an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Investor litigation predates the indictment
Court dockets show investors sued mIQroTech and Meade Lewis in a 2021 civil action, Cathexis Ventures v. mIQroTech, in federal court in Tampa; the docket and filings are available on Justia Dockets & Filings. That case produced multiple motions, orders and settlement activity and provides background on earlier disputes between the company and investors…