FRESNO - Matthew Campbell, 43, of Fresno, was sentenced today to 52 months in federal prison for defrauding investors in a $9 million Ponzi scheme, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, since 2012, Campbell operated two real estate investment companies, Preferred Property LLC and Ampez Rehab Investments LLC, which he used to buy, sell, build, and renovate properties, as well as to solicit investor money to fund his operations. Beginning in 2018, Campbell used his businesses to run a Ponzi scheme. He knowingly made false representations about his company’s finances, returns on investment, and distributions to attract new investors, then used those funds to pay returns to earlier investors.
To obtain new investments, he promised unrealistically high returns. Between January 2018 and October 2025, Campbell obtained more than $9.1 million in investor funds from over 40 investors and used them in unauthorized ways. At least $2,293,000 in new investor funds went to pay old investors and keep the scheme going.
"Mr. Campbell took advantage of the hard-earned savings of innocent people who were trying to secure their financial futures," said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. "By masking a fraudulent Ponzi scheme as a legitimate real estate opportunity, he violated federal law and exploited the trust of dozens of investors. This sentence reflects our office's unwavering commitment to seeking justice for the American People and holding accountable those who seek to do them harm."
“Today’s sentence ensures Matthew Campbell will pay a price for his crimes, but it cannot erase the breach of trust and financial devastation families and retirees who placed their confidence in Campbell suffered. Each investor believed Campbell’s claim that his legitimate real estate business could offer guaranteed returns, not knowing those promises were impossible to fulfill,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh. “The FBI is committed to investigating all allegations of financial fraud to both protect the public and ensure those who take advantage of the American people will face justice.”
Campbell pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. A restitution hearing is scheduled for October 22, 2026.