LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — A Florida man was sentenced on Thursday to 41 months in federal prison for a scheme in which he defrauded a Lynchburg doctor out of nearly half a million dollars.

66-year-old Tommie Lee Nelson, of Miramar, Florida, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in February of 2026.

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According to court documents, a Lynchburg doctor was looking to purchase a commercial building in Danville in April of 2020, in partnership with an agricultural cooperative. At that time, Nelson presented himself to the victim as a “hard money” lender who could assist in purchasing the building.

Nelson convinced the victim to wire him several payments beginning in July 2020 and into 2021, totaling nearly $500,000. Instead of putting the money toward the purchase of the building, Nelson spent the money at casinos and for his personal benefit.

By 2021, court documents indicate the purchase agreement had fallen through, and Nelson stopped responding to the victim’s phone calls.

The case was investigated by the FBI.