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Westlake Village Man Sentenced In $44M Church Scam

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Nov 3, 2009 3:22 pm US/Pacific

Westlake Village Man Sentenced In $44M Church Scam

LOS ANGELES (AP) ―

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A man who bilked South Los Angeles churchgoers out of $44 million in an insurance scam has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.

Curtis D. Somoza, 41, of Westlake Village, was sentenced Tuesday in Los Angeles federal court. He pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy, mail fraud, and other crimes.

A co-defendant, Robert Coberly, also pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

Federal prosecutors say the men got 63 people to invest in a company they claimed would buy life insurance policies for a church-based organization. Clients were promised a 25 percent annual return on the investment.

Instead, prosecutors say, the men used the money to buy luxuries that included a Ferrari and a race boat.

The judge ordered Somoza to pay $44 million in restitution.