FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Former Dog House Grill General Manager sentenced to 7 years for $30 million wire fraud scheme, according to the district attorney.
40-year-old Matthew Dane Billingsley of Fresno was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for wire fraud, defrauding lenders and financial institutions of more than $30 million.
“The defendant defrauded victims out of millions of dollars. Over nearly five years, he repeatedly and deliberately committed crimes by altering documents, forging signatures, and otherwise lying,” said Grant. FBI Special Agent Sid Patel stated, “Matthew Billingsley orchestrated a deliberate campaign of fraud, stealing more than $30 million through falsified documents.”
IRS Criminal Investigation Linda Nguyen emphasized, “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: those who engage in deception to defraud lenders and abuse the financial system will be held accountable.”
Court documents revealed that between June 2018 and February 2023, Billingsley falsely claimed to have a brokerage account with millions in assets as collateral for loans.
He used fabricated brokerage statements to secure over $30 million in loans, misrepresenting the intended use of funds.
Billingsley also forged a Fresno restaurant owner’s name on a profit-sharing agreement to obtain a loan.
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The investigation was conducted by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation units.
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FOX26 had an interview with Billingsley back in 2020 about how restaurants were staying in business due to COVID-19.