A Sacramento beauty queen who admitted running a multimillion-dollar investment fraud scheme also used a portion of the stolen money for casino gambling, federal authorities say.
Maria Dickerson, 47, who also used the names “Dulce Pino” and “Maria Dulce Pino Dickerson,” pleaded guilty to wire fraud and securities fraud. Prosecutors say she convinced investors to pour money into what she described as a lucrative legal-financing business. Instead, authorities say, a significant portion of the cash went toward her own spending, including gambling.
The scheme ran from about 2020 through 2024, beginning the same year she won a Ms. Woman Nevada pageant. During that time, Dickerson solicited money from roughly 156 investors through her company, Creative Legal Fundings of California.
According to a civil complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, she told investors their money would be used to fund civil lawsuits by providing advances to personal injury lawyers. She promised that investors would see steady monthly profits, often claiming returns between 10% and 17.5%.
Authorities later determined that the investment operation she described was not real.
State regulators say the business grew largely through personal connections and word of mouth. Prospective investors were often invited to small gatherings where the opportunity was presented as a reliable way to earn consistent returns while helping finance lawsuits.
Regulators in Washington state said investors were typically promised monthly returns around 10%, with the potential to earn even more if they rolled their profits back into the program. Investigators concluded the operation functioned in a Ponzi-like fashion, where incoming funds from new participants were used to pay earlier investors.
Authorities say victims were spread across several states, including Washington. Officials say neither Dickerson nor her company held the licenses required to sell securities in Washington.
Sacramento beauty queen spent investor money on gambling and luxury trips
Court records show Dickerson spent at least $2.5 million of investor funds on personal expenses.
Some of that money ended up in casinos. The Securities and Exchange Commission says Dickerson spent more than $280,000 of investor funds at casinos.
Prosecutors also say the investor money covered luxury travel, private jet trips, and expensive purchases. Among those purchases were high-end vehicles, including Mercedes-Benz cars.
Federal authorities say the investment offerings themselves were never registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is required under federal law. Even so, prosecutors say Dickerson continued soliciting funds while making misleading statements about how the money would be used and what returns investors would receive.
Regulators say many victims came from the Filipino-American community and were approached through trusted relationships and referrals.
Investigators also say that after the original operation began to collapse, Dickerson tried to keep raising money through another business called The Ubiquity Group. Authorities say she used similar promises of high-return investments to attract additional funds.
The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Alabama Securities Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is handling the prosecution.
Dickerson is scheduled to be sentenced July 28, 2026, by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez.
Wire fraud carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000. The securities fraud charge also allows for a maximum 20-year prison term and fines that can reach $5 million.
Separately, the Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil enforcement case seeking financial penalties and the recovery of funds authorities say were obtained illegally. A judge will determine Dickerson’s final sentence after reviewing federal sentencing guidelines and other factors.
Featured image: Woman of Achievement via Facebook
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