California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the sentencing of Alma Perez for her involvement in an investment fraud scheme that resulted in more than $735,000 in losses from five victims. The scheme targeted individuals’ retirement savings and inheritance funds over several years.
The California Department of Justice charged Perez with grand theft, securities fraud, conspiracy, use of a scheme to defraud in connection with the sale of a security, and an aggravated white collar crime enhancement. Following a seven-day trial that concluded on July 3, 2025, Perez was convicted on all counts and enhancements. She was remanded into custody and sentenced on August 22 to 18 years and 8 months in prison.
“When bad actors scheme to steal the savings of hardworking Californians, we won’t stand idly by,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, justice has been served. Those who cheat the system to line their own pockets will be held accountable for their crimes. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to fight fraud and financial crimes wherever they occur.”
According to authorities, between May 2008 and December 2013, Perez sold investments through her companies Grand Trine LLC and Kings Funding Source LLC. She falsely told victims their principal would be guaranteed and not at risk while promising monthly returns. Instead, she used the invested funds for personal expenses such as credit card payments, groceries, clothing store purchases, utilities, dining expenses, cash withdrawals, as well as making “Ponzi” payments to other victims under the guise of investment returns. In one instance, Perez forged a disbursement request from a victim’s annuity policy and transferred those funds into an account she controlled for personal spending.
The case was prosecuted by the Department of Justice’s Special Prosecution Section. This unit handles complex criminal cases across California involving various forms of fraud—including securities and mortgage fraud—public corruption violations related to political reform laws, offenses linked to tax or revenue fraud in the underground economy sector, counterfeiting activities, and human trafficking.
