San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, September 16, 2026 —

A 78-year-old financial adviser based in Danville has received a nine-year prison sentence for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme valued at $12 million. The scheme operated for nearly three decades and involved defrauding individuals identified as friends, family, and church members. The full name of the financial adviser and the specific church denomination were not provided in the available information.

The scheme’s operation spanned a considerable period, nearly thirty years, during which funds from new investors were allegedly used to pay returns to earlier investors, a characteristic hallmark of Ponzi schemes. The total amount involved in the fraudulent operation reached $12 million.

Victims of the scheme included individuals described as close relations and members of the financial adviser’s religious community. The sentencing marks the conclusion of legal proceedings against the adviser for these charges. Further details regarding the timeline of the investigation or the exact date of sentencing were not immediately available.

The case highlights the long-term impact such financial deceptions can have on personal relationships and community trust. As the adviser begins a nine-year prison term, the full scope of financial and personal repercussions for the defrauded parties is likely to continue to unfold.


Story summarized from the original created by Dan Noyes on abc7news.com, see more information here.

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