A real estate-focused social media influencer—often called a “finfluencer”—who lured followers with promises of massive returns and financial independence has now been sentenced after admitting to tax and wire fraud.
Tyler Bossetti, 31, of Ohio, received a six-year federal prison sentence on Friday for running a multimillion-dollar real estate Ponzi scheme tied to his “Boss Lifestyle” investment program.
According to prosecutors, Bossetti raised more than $23 million from investors across the U.S. and abroad. Dozens of victims collectively lost over $11 million, with some losing their entire life savings.
A court has also ordered Bossetti to pay more than $12.5 million in restitution to those affected.
Dominick Gerace, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said the case serves as a stark warning about the consequences of tax fraud and financial crimes, especially as Tax Day approaches.
Real estate influencer Tyler Bossetti has been sentenced to six years in prison for running a Ponzi scheme in Ohio.
“As we close out tax season for the year, I want to remind the public that this office will aggressively pursue those who cheat the tax system or otherwise steal from the U.S. Treasury,” said Dominick Gerace in a statement. “We will not tolerate fraud—whether committed against the government or private citizens.”
How the Ponzi scheme worked
According to court documents obtained by Realtor.com, Bossetti heavily promoted a real estate investment program called Boss Lifestyle LLC between 2019 and 2023.
The filings allege he carried out a scheme “to defraud and to deprive another of money and property by materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.”
They further state that Bossetti solicited short-term real estate investments by promising unusually high returns—often 30% or more—claiming profits would come from buying, renovating, refinancing, and eventually renting or selling residential properties.
Tyler Bossetti received roughly $23 million from victims across the U.S. and abroad, promoting his investment opportunities heavily on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.
He also hosted a podcast called “All for Nothing” and built a sizable online following, including about 94,000 followers on Instagram for the show and more than 862,000 on his personal Instagram account, which has since been set to private.
On his YouTube channel, Bossetti described himself as a “real estate developer” focused on helping others build a “victim-proof mindset” and achieve generational wealth.
According to investigators, Bossetti issued promissory notes to investors that falsely claimed their funds were risk-free and backed by real estate assets he owned.
However, the United States Department of Justice said in charging documents that when soliciting funds and issuing those notes, Bossetti knew he would not use the money as promised—and that the supposed business profits would be insufficient to meet the obligations he had taken on.
The disgraced “finfluencer,” Tyler Bossetti, has been ordered to pay $12.5 million in restitution to his victims.
Authorities say Bossetti operated a classic Ponzi scheme—using funds from new investors to pay earlier ones rather than generating legitimate business income.
He also admitted to diverting investor money for personal use, funding a lavish lifestyle that included rent for a downtown Columbus condo, frequent travel, and a $150,000 Mercedes-Benz SUV.
In addition, Bossetti funneled investor funds into unauthorized cryptocurrency investments, many of which resulted in significant losses, according to court filings.
Prosecutors further allege that Bossetti orchestrated the creation and filing of approximately 14 false 1099-INT tax forms, submitting them to the Internal Revenue Service to report interest income investors never actually earned.
Bossetti was formally charged via a bill of information in April 2025 and later pleaded guilty in June 2025 to wire fraud and aiding in the filing of false tax documents.
Tyler Bossetti persuaded investors to put money into his real estate venture, Boss Lifestyle LLC, between 2019 and 2023.
His attorney, Michael Hunter, told Barron’s: “Tyler has fully accepted responsibility for his role in the money that investors lost. He is deeply remorseful for the stress and pain caused and is committed to working diligently to ensure restitution is made to the identified victims.”
Hunter did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Realtor.com.
Victims spoke out in court
At sentencing, several victims described the devastating toll the scheme took on their lives. According to The Columbus Dispatch, victim Ryan Clark spoke on behalf of himself, his firefighter brother, and his father—a retired police officer who lost his pension.
“There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think about bankruptcy,” he said. “We live in constant fear that the next bill won’t be able to be paid. It was a deliberate decision to take a lifetime of security away from people who provided security to so many others.”
Another victim, Michael Ringhoffer, said Bossetti showed no compassion even after learning his wife was undergoing cancer treatment.
“He didn’t just steal the money—he turned our lives upside down,” he said.
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley told Bossetti: “I have no doubt you knew what you were doing and anticipated the result. What you didn’t anticipate is that you would get caught.”
Bossetti expressed remorse, telling the court he was “drawn in faster and deeper” than his judgment should have allowed.
Rise of ‘finfluencers’ raises new risks
So-called “finfluencers” like Bossetti have become increasingly common across social media. A 2024 Modern Wealth Survey by Charles Schwab found that 38% of Gen Z gets financial advice from YouTube, while 33% turn to TikTok.
Because these platforms don’t vet financial influencers, unqualified individuals can present themselves as experts—sometimes leading to serious financial harm.
“A huge fear financial advisers have about finfluencers is that someone can make a decision that can cost them a huge percentage, if not all, of their retirement, savings, or home,” said Marcus Sturdivant Sr. of Tristate Financial Advisors.
He advises investors to do thorough research and consult a certified financial planner before committing to any major investment.
“Never make big decisions like that on impulse or without fully understanding what’s at stake and who you’re getting advice from,” he said.
