⏱ 2 min read
Tamara King, a 56-year-old former real estate broker from the Seattle area, was sentenced to 55 months in prison for running a decade-long real estate investment scam that swindled 22 victims out of $2.25 million. King, who operated in Bellevue and Kirkland, Washington, promised investors their money would be used to purchase and renovate properties, but instead used the funds to fuel her lavish lifestyle. The scam, which ran from August 2009 to December 2013, was perpetrated by King and her now ex-husband, Paul Waln.
King’s scheme was exposed after an 8-day jury trial in December 2025, which resulted in her conviction on 14 federal felonies, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud. During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez rebuked King for her lack of remorse, stating that she had testified falsely and deliberately lied on the witness stand.
The FBI, which investigated the case, criticized King’s actions, saying she had stolen from people who had invested not just their money, but their dreams of a secure retirement. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said the significant prison time should serve as a warning to other fraudsters that they will be held accountable for their actions.
The case highlights the importance of carefully vetting investment opportunities and the need for vigilance in preventing real estate fraud. As Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office, W. Mike Herrington, noted, the FBI will continue to follow the money to ensure that fraudsters are held accountable for their greed and the damage it causes.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Washington
- Location: WA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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