HONOLULU
Richard Patterson Jr., 44, of Norco, California, was sentenced to 68 months in federal prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud and failing to appear in court, U.S. prosecutors announced.
He was also ordered to pay $2.03 million in restitution to more than 15 victims.
According to court records and his August 2025 plea agreement, Patterson and co-conspirators Dashawn Hill and Judy Ramos ran an advance-fee investment scheme that promised victims “risk-free” returns of 200% to 1,000%.
Victims were persuaded to invest upfront payments ranging from $5,000 to $550,000.
Instead of investing the money, prosecutors said the defendants used it to fund personal expenses, including rent, travel and entertainment.
Authorities said Patterson used the proceeds to maintain a lavish lifestyle, including renting a luxury condominium in Honolulu’s Ala Moana area and purchasing luxury goods.
During the scheme, Patterson used the alias “Xavier Carter,” adopting a fake accent and claiming to be a foreign national.
Prosecutors said the conspiracy defrauded victims of more than $2 million.
A week before his scheduled October 2024 trial, Patterson failed to appear for two court hearings and fled California while on bond. He was later arrested in the Southern District of California and returned to Hawaii.
Hill and Ramos have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced May 13 and June 2, 2026. The FBI investigated the case.