Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Running $9 Million Real Estate Ponzi Scheme

Matthew Campbell, 43, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in connection with a $9 million real estate investment fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, since 2012, Campbell operated two real estate investment companies, Preferred Property LLC and Ampez Rehab Investments LLC, which he used to buy and sell real estate, build, renovate properties, and solicit investor money to fund operations. Starting in 2018, Campbell began using his businesses to conduct a Ponzi scheme. He knowingly made false representations about his company's finances, the return on investment, and distributions to attract new investors, and then he used the funds to pay returns to earlier investors. Between January 2018 and October 2025, Campbell obtained more than $9.1 million in investor funds that he used in unauthorized ways. At least $2,293,000 in new investor funds went to pay old investors and continue the scheme.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Arelis M. Clemente are prosecuting the case.

Campbell is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Campbell faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.