A former HGTV star was sentenced to four years in jail and ordered to pay back close to $10 million for real estate and financial fraud against 11 victims.
The Office of the District Attorney for California’s Santa Clara County reported that Charles “Todd” Hill was coordinated multiple real estate fraud schemes, including a Ponzi scheme and the diversion of investor money for personal use – including the purchase of luxury cars and vacations and the rental of a San Francisco hotel. In one scheme, he secured $250,000 from an investor for a home remodeling, but the investor discovered the property was a burnt down shell that Hill never touched.
As part of his schemes, Hill created false financial documents and used bogus information to secure loans and bamboozle investors.
Hill was convicted last September after pleading guilty to grand theft against all victims and admitting to the aggravated white-collar enhancements. He was ordered to pay back $9.4 million in restitution and serve 10 years on probation.
“Some see the huge amount of money in Silicon Valley real estate as a business opportunity,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “Others, unfortunately, see it as a criminal opportunity – and we will hold those people strictly accountable.”
Hill gained celebrity as the star of HGTV’s 2013-2014 series “Flip It to Win It,” in which he purchased dilapidated homes for renovation and profitable resales.
Photo: Todd Hill in 2013 while filming “Flip It to Win It,” courtesy of Todd Hill’s Facebook page.
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Probation my eyeball!! Jailtime and lots of it should be the adjudication.
Meanwhile Head of Homeland Security Mayorkas is given a pass for not securing our borders instead leaving our southern borders wide open & turning a blind eye to the invasion of illegal aliens from all over the world coming in droves.
Nope. Political theatre, my friend. “Wide open borders” is political red meat for the masses and a trope designed to distract you from the disastrous failures of past administrations. The border crisis has not been handled well for years, but it existed way before this Admin. or Mayorkas. Also, WTF does that have to do with real estate and financial fraud? You seem to be making a moral equivalence where it does not exist. Commit crimes and harm people = go to jail. Pretty simple.
Lara is right on, but a voice crying in the wilderness. The people who believe all the fear and hate themed propaganda designed to create the polarized nation that we have become believe that the refugees fleeing the crime ridden failed countries to our south are themselves criminals, who just happen to be predominantly women and children, because that is what they want to believe. Showing them proof of the truth just makes them dig their hob nail boot’s heals in deeper.
Lara and Stephen,
I agree with you both! And Jay, so laughable how you chose of all subjects to equate this to, you choose Mayorkas.
Hill defrauds millions from trusting people and gets probation. Come on, Really!!