In July 2008, special agents from the FBI Sacramento Field Office executed a search warrant at the residence of a suspect and interviewed other individuals in connection with a mortgage fraud investigation.

In addition to finding evidence for their own case, investigators uncovered ties to what appeared to be a separate mortgage fraud scheme, and FBI Sacramento opened another case, working in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation.

The main subject of the second case was Lee Loomis, president of Loomis Wealth Solutions, a company based in Roseville, California, but operating in about half a dozen states. And it wasn’t long before FBI and IRS investigators realized they were dealing with a much broader criminal scheme, and that mortgage fraud was just the tip of the iceberg.

After a long-term and complex investigation by law enforcement, Loomis was charged, pleaded guilty, and sentenced earlier this year for running a multi-faceted investment fraud/Ponzi scheme that caused millions of dollars in losses to more than 183 investors.

By reviewing voluminous amounts of evidence—including personal and company records, real estate records, bank records, financial statements, etc.—and questioning victims, employees of Loomis-owned entities, and others, investigators learned that from 2006 through 2008, Loomis offered what he called a “wealth-building program.”

During seminars about his company held at hotels and casinos, he boasted of unusually high rates of return for anyone who invested with him, and he advertised individualized financial family planning to help prospective clients earn money for college tuitions and retirement. Those attending the seminars were then asked to submit financial information including tax returns, pay stubs, copies of bills, and information concerning their home equity. Loomis would analyze this information and—targeting families with substantial home equity and good credit—invite them to a private two-day workshop.

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