(FOX40.COM) — A Fresno man has pleaded guilty to fraud for his involvement in a $9 million investment scam, federal officials said.

Matthew Campbell, 43, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for misusing millions in investor funds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced the plea Monday.

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Campbell operated two real estate investment companies: Preferred Property LLC and Ampez Rehab Investments LLC. Those companies were used to buy and sell real estate, build and renovate properties and solicit investor money.

He began knowingly falsely representing the finances of his companies in 2018, prosecutors said, and began to use investor funds to pay returns to earlier investors. Campbell used nearly $2.3 million in new investor funds to pay old investors.

In all, Campbell scammed people out of $9.1 million.

Campbell faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11.

Ampez Rehab Investments has a 1.25-star rating out of 5 on its Better Business Bureau business profile. It is not BBB accredited.

Four reviews left by customers last year were negative.

“It started in June when payments were late and an email with lame excuses,” wrote user William P. “After a few emails, I received a payment on my personal account but nothing on my 401K account. Emails and phone calls yielded crickets. Never received anything in July either. I am stunned. Never [thought] I would be scammed.”

“[S]ince Dec. 2024, my monthly dividend payment began to be late,” wrote another user, Elaine H. “Since I have invested a sizable sum in the company, I am very concerned. If I do not get my latest dividend, I am considering filing a complaint […].”

Four complaints are posted on the company’s BBB profile, all submitted between May and July of last year.

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