CARMEL - Federal authorities arrested Daniel Chartraw, 39, after investigators said he swindled more than $2 million from people since 2007.
He's formerly from El Dorado Hills, where investigators say his big scheme started.
He made his way to Carmel where they say he scammed at least $140,000.
Court documents show he was out of the Monterey County Jail on bond when he escaped to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Here's how investigators think he did it.
Carmel Police said he claimed to own gold and silver mines that never existed.
Police said he would show off his so-called wealth with generic photos of his "riches" and display them in a portfolio.
They said he even gave his victims a shiny gold coin, a piece of the so-called "treasure."
The typical scenario -- Police said he told his victims he was short one investor and if they invested now they'd get more money back.
In Carmel, he's accused of doing this to three people, two of them elderly, and they gave him anywhere from $35,000 to $60,000.
They all got their money back, but investigators believe he stole from other people to pay the alleged Carmel victims back.
Chartraw, a husband and father, was so convincing police said he had lawyers and doctors vouching for him.
The FBI and Carmel Police Department tracked him to Cabo San Lucas because people in Mexico recognized him from pictures online and tipped off investigators.
They arrested him last month and brought him back to California to face justice.
Chartraw is expected to enter a plea on Wednesday.
He faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the 18 charges he faces.
