SANTA ANA, California
A federal grand jury has indicted Christopher Earl Lloyd, 39, of Whittier, accusing him of using dating platforms like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to defraud victims of over $2 million through elaborate romance-investment scams, officials announced Thursday.
Lloyd was arrested Thursday and is expected to appear in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana to face 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction with criminal proceeds, according to authorities.
From April 2021 to February 2024, Lloyd allegedly posed as a wealthy investor, claiming to be a financial manager, vice president of Planet 13 Holdings, and an employee of Landmark Associates, to win victims’ trust and convince them to invest. Authorities say none of these claims were true.
He promised high returns and flexible withdrawals, even signing fake contracts and setting up phony payment schedules. Victims sent money via wire transfers, Zelle, Cash App, and cash.
In one instance, Lloyd allegedly used $40,000 of a victim’s money to buy a car from a Lexus dealership.
If convicted, Lloyd faces up to 20 years in prison per wire fraud count and up to 10 years for the money laundering charge.
The FBI is investigating.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Fu is prosecuting the case.