Sacramento ‘beauty pageant queen’ confesses to $10M Ponzi scheme

Fuente: New York Post

A Sacramento woman who proclaimed herself as a beauty pageant queen has pleaded guilty to swindling investors out of more than $10 million to pay for vacations, gambling and other expenses supporting a luxurious lifestyle. Maria Dickerson, 49, also known as “Dulce Pino,” ran a four-year Ponzi scheme from 2020 to 2024, according to the US Attorney’s Office in charge of the Eastern District of California. Dickerson sold interests in a fake shell company called Creative Legal Fundings of California, telling investors their money was safe, secure, and backed by significant capital.