Authorities say they allegedly overcame more than $2 million in people using dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, a Whittier man was arrested Thursday.
According to the US Lawyer’s Office for the Central District of California, 39-year-old Christopher Earl Lloyd has been charged with one count of 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a financial transaction of property derived from fraud. If convicted, he faces the largest possible sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count, and up to 10 years in financial transactions.
Between April 2021 and February 2024, authorities say Lloyd is using dating apps and websites to contact suspected victims and lies about the financial success and knowledge of their investment. Prosecutors also claim that Lloyd was lying that he was a financial manager, the vice president of a company called Planet 13 Holdings, and worked for an investment company called Landmark Associates.
According to a statement from the prosecutor, Lloyd allegedly persuaded people to invest by telling them he knew investment opportunities that could help them. He is also said to have told them that they will get regular returns and can withdraw their investments at any time.
Lloyd is said to have signed the contract. Set a false schedule of investment returns. Authorities say they used cash, wire transfers and CashApp and Zelle to collect money.
In May 2023, Lloyd is allegedly withdrawn $40,000 that someone sent him to write a check at a Lexus dealer in Mission Viejo. The alleged scheme of Lloyd’s scheme costs more than $2 million on the loss of the victim, officials said.
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