Orlando, Florida - A federal jury has found Viktoriya Johnson (36, Orlando) guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. Her sentencing hearing is set for Aug. 18, 2018.
Johnson was indicted in May 2017, along with her co-defendant Leone Alfano La Cava (59, Orlando), who pleaded guilty to wire fraud on March 30, 2018.
According to evidence presented at trial, La Cava and Johnson orchestrated an international real estate investment scheme that defrauded at least 80 investors out of over $4 million. La Cava solicited individuals in Italy to purchase real estate in Orange County, Florida that he claimed would generate guaranteed rental income. Johnson and La Cava then used falsified deeds and loan documents to convince investors that they were purchasing property owned by La Cava or Golden Investment, Inc., a real estate investment company incorporated by Johnson in 2010. In reality, those properties either did not exist, were never owned by La Cava, Johnson, or Golden Investment, or had already been sold to another investor. Instead of using the funds to purchase the real estate promised to investors, La Cava and Johnson used portions of the money for their own personal use. Johnson received over $1.3 million in investor funds that she used to purchase four properties and two luxury vehicles for herself.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan W. Hill and Chauncey A. Bratt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
