Charles “Todd” Hill, who starred on the HGTV series Flip It or Win It, is reportedly heading to jail after he committed real estate and financial fraud against 11 victims.
According to Deadline, a California judge sentenced Hill to four years in jail. He is also ordered to pay nearly $10 million in restitution to the victims.
In a statement, the Santa Clara County District Attorney revealed more details about the former HGTV star’s crimes. “The show’s concept was that he bought dilapidated homes, fixed them up, and then sold them for a profit. Instead, Hill spent millions on overbudget remodels, laundered profits, and pocketed millions in fraudulently obtained money.”
Last year, Hill was convicted of multiple fraud schemes. Among them include scams perpetrated long before his HGTV days. The DA’s office stated, “Evidence showed that Hill spent the laundered money on a rented apartment in San Francisco, as well as hotels, vacations, and luxury cars.”
It was further reported that Hill created a Ponzi scheme. He took an investor’s money, budgeted to buy homes, and used it to fund his lavish lifestyle. He then created false balance sheets and got loans using fraudulent information to get away with his scheme.
Flip It to Win It aired for one season in 2014. During his appearance on the show, Hill was dubbed “Mr. Flip-It.”
The show’s description reads, “From the steps of the courthouse to the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ of an open house, five teams of expert flippers bid against each other for abandoned houses sight unseen. It’s a high-stakes hour in which three auctions are won, three houses are renovated and then all three houses go on the market for top dollar.”
The Former ‘HGTV’ Was First Indicted in Nov. 2019
According to Entertainment Tonight, the HGTV star was first indicted for his crimes in Nov. 2019. This was after the district attorney’s office conducted an investigation that uncovered multiple fraud instances.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney shared various examples of Hill’s crimes. “An investor toured a home for which he had provided $250,000 for remodeling,” the office shared. “And found it to be a burnt down shell with no work done to it.”
The victim of the incident spoke at Hill’s sentencing and stated they were still suffering financial and professional damages from the fraud.
Speaking about the HGTV alum’s crimes, District Attorney Jeff Rosen pointed out, “Some see the huge amount of money in Silicon Valley real estate as a business opportunity. Others, unfortunately, see it as a criminal opportunity – and we will hold those people strictly accountable.”