A Burbank man who styled himself as a financial helper to an elderly heir is now headed to federal prison for a decade, after a jury found he siphoned off roughly $1.8 million from the man’s inheritance. Jamal Nathan Dawood, 55, was sentenced Monday to 10 years behind bars, ordered to repay $1,862,352, and hit with a $30,000 fine. Prosecutors say the scheme started when Dawood stepped in to “manage” the victim’s trust and real estate, then quietly steered cash and property titles into companies he controlled.
According to a Department of Justice press release, U.S. District Judge James V. Selna handed down a 120‑month sentence after a seven‑day trial in July 2025. Jurors convicted Dawood on six counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering. The court also ordered $1,862,352 in restitution and imposed the $30,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin N. Spencer and Melissa S. Rabbani prosecuted the case, the release says.
How Prosecutors Say The Scheme Worked
As reported by KTLA, prosecutors say Dawood approached the victim in late 2019 with an offer to help manage inherited retirement savings and real estate. He then helped set up a trust account that the victim believed would keep his assets safe. Instead, without the victim’s knowledge or permission, Dawood allegedly initiated wire and online transfers from that trust into accounts he controlled and wired money to people with whom he had personal or business relationships.
According to KTLA, Dawood also convinced the victim to transfer ownership of his own home and his late brother’s properties into companies controlled by Dawood and others close to him. What looked on paper like “estate planning” effectively stripped the victim of control over his biggest assets.
Cash Traced Into Local Homes, FBI Steps In
Per the Department of Justice, at least $1,862,352 was fraudulently obtained, and some of that money went into real estate deals in La Crescenta and Fontana. The FBI investigated the scheme, and trial exhibits walked jurors through the flow of funds and the later property purchases. Court documents identify Dawood as a Burbank resident who also uses the name “Jimmy Dawood.”
Help For Older Adults And Families
If you or a loved one is 60 or older and may have been targeted, the Office for Victims of Crime operates the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1‑833‑FRAUD‑11 (1‑833‑372‑8311) to help victims report crimes and connect with local authorities. Hotline case managers can assist with complaint filing, referrals to the FBI and consumer agencies, and links to local victim services, according to the Office for Victims of Crime. Acting quickly and notifying banks and law enforcement can increase the chance of recovering stolen funds.
The sentence is part of a broader federal focus on elder financial exploitation. Advocates continue to stress vigilance and early reporting as key to reducing harm and improving the odds of getting at least some money back.
