Crime & Safety

Waterpark Scammer Claimed Outrageous Return on Investments

An Aliso Viejo waterpark business fronted a swindler who targeted Laguna Beach residents.

When's the last time someone offered you a 30-percent return on your investment?

In front of a federal judge Monday, that's what Daniel Clyde Hunter III admitted to telling investors from 2006 to 2008, various media have reported.

Hunter said he spent years bilking investors to the tune of $3.2 million in the name of Temecula Waterpark LP of Aliso Viejo, according to OC Weekly.

What did he do with the money? According to the prosecution, Hunter spent it remodeling his home, making car payments and funding other businesses.

When investors found out, they took to the Internet to air their grievances.

One commenter, using the name "Daniel C. Hunter III Victim," claims Hunter targeted Mormons for investments, particularly those in the Three Arch Bay community of Laguna Beach.

The Temecula waterpark is still in the works if its new investor, Wild Rivers Temecula, can find enough capital to move forward, the Press Enterprise reports.


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