By Jeff German | Las Vegas Review-Journal
A Southern California man pleaded guilty Tuesday in a $5 million investment fraud scheme involving real estate projects in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and Kingman, Ariz.
Michael John Bowen, 61, entered guilty pleas in federal court in Santa Ana, Calif., to one count of tax fraud and one count of mail fraud, the Internal Revenue Service announced.
He faces a maximum of 23 years in prison at his Feb. 21 sentencing.
Between 2003 and 2009, Bowen used his development companies to solicit more than $28 million in securities, membership interests and stocks from investors in the Arizona development projects, according to his plea agreement.
Bowen admitted pocketing roughly $5 million.