A Whittier man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly used meeting applications such as Tinder, Hinge and Bumble to conclude people on more than $ 2 million, according to the authorities.
Christopher Earl Lloyd, 39, was charged with 13 leaders of fraud per thread and a chief participation in a monetary transaction in goods from fraud, according to The American lawyer’s office for the California central district. If he is found guilty, he risks a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each counting of fraud per wire and up to 10 years for the number of monetary transactions.
Between April 2021 and February 2024, the authorities say that Lloyd used applications and dating websites to find and contact alleged victims, lie about its financial success and its knowledge in the investment. Prosecutors also allege that Lloyd lied about being a financial director, the vice-president of a company called Planet 13 Holdings and that he worked for an investment company called Landmark Associates.
Lloyd would have convinced people to invest by telling them that he knew investment opportunities that could help them, according to a prosecutors’ statement. He would also have said that they would get regular yields and could withdraw their investments at any time.
Lloyd would have signed contracts; Establish a fake investment returns calendar; And collected money in the form of cash, metal transfers and using Cashapp and Zelle, the authorities said.
In May 2023, Lloyd would have withdrawn $ 40,000 that someone had sent him to make a check with a Lexus dealership in Mission Viejo. Lloyd’s alleged program cost its victims more than $ 2 million in losses, officials said.
