Charles “Todd” Hill, who starred in the HGTV show “Flip It to Win It,” was sentenced to prison in California for committing real estate and financial fraud against 11 victims, according to prosecutors.
“The concept of the show was that he would buy dilapidated homes, renovate them, and sell them at a profit. Instead, Hill spent millions on over-budget renovations, laundered the profits, and pocketed millions of dollars of his fraudulent gains,” the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office wrote.
A judge last week sentenced Hill, 58, to four years in prison and ordered him to pay about $10 million in restitution to his victims.
Hill was convicted last year of multiple fraud schemes, including one that took place well before the show began, prosecutors said.
“The evidence revealed that Hill used the laundered funds to rent an apartment in San Francisco, as well as hotels, vacations and luxury vehicles,” the district attorney's office said.
Prosecutors said Hill created a Ponzi scheme in which he gave investors money to buy homes and then live a lavish lifestyle. To hide his fraud, Hill created false balance sheets and used false information to obtain loans.
When an investor toured a home he'd paid Hill to renovate for $250,000, he found a burned-out house with no work done.
“Some people see the huge amounts of money flowing into Silicon Valley real estate as a business opportunity,” said District Attorney Jeff Rosen. “Unfortunately, some see it as an opportunity to commit crimes, and we intend to hold them strictly accountable.”
Hill was indicted in November 2019. On September 27, 2023, he was convicted of grand larceny against all victims and pleaded guilty to aggravated white collar crime. Hill was ordered to pay $9.4 million in restitution.
“Flip It to Win It” aired for one season on HGTV in 2014, with teams of home renovators competing to flip homes in Silicon Valley.
Hill competed on the show as one half of a duo whose team won the “biggest profit” from the resale project on the show, reportedly making $134,000.
A Santa Clara County judge on April 16 ordered Hill to report to jail immediately.