A Santa Barbara County man convicted of operating a fraudulent investment scheme which preyed on elderly victims has been sentenced to more than 16 years in state prison.
Prosecutors say Brett Edward Lovett was a legal document assistant who claimed he could provide high returns on investments. They say he targeted seniors, including some members of his church.
But, investigators say he used some of the money intended for investments for personal things like cosmetic procedures, and vacations.
A 78-year-old victim reported what was happening to the State Department of Insurance. That led to the discovery of several additional victims. Lovett was convicted of 29 felony counts, leading to his sentencing this week.
