A Whittier man faces federal charges after allegedly scamming over $2 million from individuals he met on dating apps, authorities say. Christopher Earl Lloyd, 39, was arrested on Thursday, according to KTLA, on a 14-count indictment that includes 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from the fraud.
Lloyd is said to have lured victims on Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble beginning in April 2021 through February 2024, convincing them of his imaginary wealth and supposed insider knowledge of lucrative investment opportunities according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. In one instance, Lloyd allegedly misappropriated $40,000 from a victim to purchase a vehicle at a Lexus dealership. As reported by CBS News Los Angeles, the falsified narrative included claims of successfully closed property deals, a lengthy career in financial management, and executive roles at nonexistent firms.
Prosecutors contend that Lloyd signed contracts with victims, showing fake investment opportunities and concocted return schedules, to bolster his deception. He directed them to send funds via wire transfers, Cash App, Zelle, and cash payments, the Department of Justice notes. However, instead of investing the money as promised, Lloyd utilized the finances for his expenditures.
If convicted on all counts, the consequences for Lloyd could be severe, entailing up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count, and up to 10 years for the monetary transaction charge, Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Fu is reportedly prosecuting the case. The FBI is currently leading the investigation into these allegations. All the while, each defendant, including Lloyd, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court – a cornerstone principle of the American legal system.
