A Fresno man has been sentenced to several years in federal prison for operating a $9 million real estate Ponzi scheme.
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced that Matthew Campbell, 43, will spend 52 months behind bars for defrauding investors.
Driving the news: Campbell operated two real estate investment companies – Preferred Property LLC and Ampez Rehab Investments LLC – since 2012.
- He used the companies to buy, sell, build and renovate properties and to solicit investments.
- Starting in 2018, Campbell used his business to conduct a Ponzi scheme and used investment money to pay off earlier investors.
- Campbell promised unrealistically high returns to obtain new investments.
- From January 2018 to October 2025, Campbell received over $9.1 million from more than 40 investors. He used at least $2.29 million in new investments to pay off old investors.
Flashback: Campbell pleaded guilty on Feb. 9 to defrauding investors…