Marco Santerelli Sentenced to Prison.

Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes

from what the article said 30 months in prison 63 mil in restitution.. generally have to serve what I believe is 80% of the sentence. So out in 24 months or so.. Millions wiped out and a very good business prior to these investments kind of down the tubes.. Sad on all levels

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Alan F.

Flipper/Rehabber · CA · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

I doubt he spends even 24 months in club fed, and if anyone believes he'll pay $60+M in restitution ive got a bridge.......nevermind

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Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
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Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
5d
Never met him, never spoke with him, and at one point in time, it was my understanding he was doing turnkey rentals and getting money from some private lenders, I believe, to fund that. As you mentioned, back in the day, I think he was doing very well.
Once I saw his offerings as a note fund offering 15% to 18% return to investors, that's when I started scratching my head, as I could not see how he could be paying that while still making money for himself. It's my understanding he also, during COVID, started investing with some influencers in things like failed brick-and-mortar and Broadway plays. I have no idea what his background was, but it is very odd for somebody to go from residential real estate into what he was going into.
This is what I always tell limited partners in deals: not only understand what you're investing in, but does that sponsor have experience in that realm. I've also seen an example of another investor who started getting into AI mining and oil and gas, who, again, comes from a single-family residential background, which, to me, again, makes zero sense. Then you see they pause distributions, and people wonder why. The reality is, the answer is right in front of them.
My moral of this story is, whether you're a GP or an LP, stick with what you know, or get on the bus of somebody who has experience in what it is they're doing. If you're working with somebody with very limited experience, a lot of bad things can happen.
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Alan F.
Flipper/Rehabber · CA · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4d
I doubt he spends even 24 months in club fed, and if anyone believes he'll pay $60+M in restitution ive got a bridge.......nevermind
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Divin KanyamaBusiness Member
Accountant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2025 · 520 posts · 214 votes
4d
@Jay Hinrichs As someone who listened to the podcast and also acquired a turnkey property through them, this is especially sobering and personal. The show presented a polished, credible voice and shared a lot of useful real-estate content, while the turnkey relationship created an additional layer of trust. It is a reminder that familiarity, a strong platform, and even a completed transaction can feel like due diligence when they are not a substitute for independent verification.
The consequences for the investors and families affected are difficult to overstate. It is still worth being careful with estimates about time served or restitution recovery, since those depend on the judgment, applicable rules, credits, and ability to pay. Going forward, I will be paying closer attention to ownership, liens, valuations, use of funds, financial statements, and controls—even when the operator feels familiar and credible. For others who listened, invested, or purchased turnkey properties through them, how has this changed the way you evaluate operators, and what verification steps will you add next time?
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JD MartinBusiness Member
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Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
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Ouch. That's rough. I couldn't place the name at first but there was a little stretch maybe 10 years ago or so when I was on a number of podcasts and I think his might have been one of them. Too many of these guys get so enamored with the money and the notoriety that I think they end up just getting into things that are way, way over their head and that's when real problems start. He's not the first guy to go down that path and won't be the last that's for sure.
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James Wise
Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 31k+ posts · 20k+ votes
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He's got good Lawyers. Less than 3 years for a $63 Million Dollar Ponzi. Couple years ago that scumbag Matt Motil out of Cleveland got 5 years for a Ponzi in the $12 Million Dollar range.
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- Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
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  Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
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  Some people have made comments in other forums that he was affiliated with a bigger fish and maybe cooperating with authorities to take down someone of more notoriety.
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- Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
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  Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
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  Exactly.. my son in law's neighbor got busted for a tech ponzi.. I always wondered how he could go from start up to buying a 3 mil home across from my kids.
  Well that question was answered when the FBI raided him.. forged bank statements and reports and lost 150 mil.. And pocketed about 20 mil not sure how he got away with that part.. but he got 5 years in a low security ND prison that looked like an old school building. out in just over 3 .. According to my son in law he gave his lawyer 500k retainer and hired one of the best NY criminal white collar attorneys. It makes a difference I suspect between Marko helping take down the other fraudsters and probably smart enough to pay for top legal representation this led to this sentence.
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V.G JasonPro Member
Investor · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
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https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-ceo-oc-based-private-equity-fund-sentenced-nearly-3-years-federal-prison
Got away lightly.
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