The president of a Dallas-based real estate firm was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison Wednesday after carrying out a multi-million-dollar scheme involving the ‘We Buy Ugly Houses’ company.
Charles Carrier, 67, was president of C&C Residential Properties, a Dallas firm that partnered with HomeVestors, the parent company of “We Buy Ugly Houses.”
From 2018 through 2024, Carrier used the partnership to solicit millions of dollars from investors-many of them elderly-promising to use their money to buy, renovate and sell residential properties, according to court documents.
Instead, Carrier frequently failed to record deeds for properties and diverted investors’ money to personal expenses, unrelated business costs and payments to earlier investors, according to prosecutors.
The fraud scheme generated nearly $40 million. Carrier pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in October 2025, and he was ordered to pay more than $24 million in restitution to victims.
A Dallas real estate executive was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a $40M fraud scheme tied to the “We Buy Ugly Houses” brand. (Robert McLeroy/San Antonio Express-News) (San Antonio Express-News)
“Financial fraud isn’t just numbers on a ledger-it’s a direct assault on hardworking Americans who trusted an alleged expert with their savings,” Ryan Raybould, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said in a statement Wednesday. “Carrier didn’t just target investors; he preyed on Main Street families, retirees and small business owners through a sham ‘We Buy Ugly Houses’ scam.
“Through his lies and deceit, Carrier earned every month of his 15-year sentence. This case should serve as a warning to those who target Main Street Americans in North Texas.”
Founded in Dallas in the 1980s, We Buy Ugly Houses is a network of independently owned and operated franchises that buy homes with cash, then invest in the property and sell them at a higher rate. There are more than 1,000 franchises nationwide as of 2026, with the brand now operating under the HomeVestors of America network.
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This article originally published at Dallas real estate boss gets 15 years for $40M ‘We Buy Ugly Houses’ scam.