Christopher Burnell, of Highland, pleaded guilty May 10 to 11 counts of wire fraud outlined in a September, 2017, indictment that accused him of defrauding $5.6 million from at least nine people and spending the money on gambling, girlfriends and jets.
Burnell, a former San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy who worked in a county jail, claimed he would put the money in a high-return investment, or that he would use it to pay for his wife’s cancer treatments or that he would use it to fight a custody battle against his father-in-law, according to the indictment against him.
Misrepresentation
He claimed to have $150 million, gained from investments, two lawsuits against San Bernardino County and Kaiser Permanente, or from selling a bullet resistant vest patent to Oakley, the indictment said.
He claimed he owned a private jet, and employed the jet’s staff, in order to pretend he was a successful businessman, the indictment said.
If he was temporarily unable to pay back investors, he claimed the IRS had frozen his accounts.
In reality, Burnell spent the money paying back other victims, gambling at San Manuel Casino, or on an apartment, two cars and luxury items for his multiple girlfriends, according to the prosecutor’s documents.
Reality
In reality, Burnell spent the money paying back other victims, gambling at San Manuel Casino, or on an apartment, two cars and luxury items for his multiple girlfriends, according to the prosecutor’s documents.
A manager at San Manuel Casino was prepared to testify that Burnell gambled $34 million at San Manuel Casino in 2011 and 2012, but lost $2 million, according to prosecutor documents.
Burnell’s wife, now divorced, never had cancer and her father never fought Burnell for custody rights.
She was prepared to testify against him in court, according to court documents.
Burnell actually had $6,400 in his bank account at one point, but altered a Wells Fargo statement using white correction tape to pretend to investors he was a multi-millionaire.
He did sue San Bernardino County for workplace injuries in 2003, but a judge threw out the case after concluding he did not prove his relevant injuries were due to his employment, according to the prosecutor.
He did receive $1 million from arbitration with Kaiser Permanente, but never sold anything to Oakley, the prosecutor said.
Burnell would also charter a jet, tell the investors he owned it, and direct the jet’s staff to pretend he was the jet’s owner and their employee to impress investors, the prosecutor claimed.
Burnell also pleaded guilty to falsifying two tax documents in 2011 and 2012.
One of the victims was Scott Beard, who had sued Burnell but dropped the case after realizing Burnell didn’t have any money. Beard created a Facebook page, “Have you been ripped off by Chris Burnell of Highland, California?,” in October, 2012, to warn other possible investors that Burnell should not be trusted, and pushed the federal government to bring charges against the scammer.
“The guy had no conscience whatsoever,” Beard said.
Sentencing will be held Aug. 15.
Case information
Elon Berk of Sherman Oaks’ Gurovich, Berk and Associates represented Burnell.
Jerry Yang and Robert Trisotto of the AUSA Office of US Attorney, Riverside Branch Office, led the prosecution.
Central District of California Judge Michael Fitzgerald presided.
Case number 5:17-cr-00278.
Read the indictment here.
