SANTA ANA (CNS) - A 54-year-old unlicensed broker made his first appearance in court Wednesday on charges of stealing about $800,000 from several clients in Orange County from 2016 through 2019.
Kelly Curtis, who was arrested by Orange County sheriff's deputies on Tuesday, was charged June 13 with 10 counts of grand theft and 10 counts of money laundering, all felonies. He also faces sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime exceeding $500,000.
The defendant "led investors to believe that he was a licensed broker, and took money from at least four individuals who believed Curtis was investing the money through his company, K Curtis Financial Group," Deputy District Attorney George Smith said in court papers. "Curtis was not a licensed broker at the time."
He was accused of taking the money from investors and putting it into his and his wife's personal accounts, Smith said.
"Curtis used the investment funds he received from victims for personal expenses including mortgage payments, airline tickets, hotel stays, concert tickets and payments to Mercedes Benz," Smith alleged.
Curtis did not enter a plea at his arraignment in the Central Justice Center in Sana Ana on Wednesday, when it was rescheduled for July 14 in the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
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