A Turlock broker who bilked dozens of victims out of thousands of dollars through investment schemes and stole the personal identification information of friends, associates, and even family members, is headed to state prison.

Bounthavy Tyler Manivong, 32, was sentenced by Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge John Whiteside to five years in state prison and ordered to pay his victims $2 million in restitution.

Manivong was convicted of five counts of identity theft and one count of tax evasion. He had originally been facing eight counts of identity theft and 15 counts of grand theft.

Prosecutors said Manivong masterminded a real estate scheme, in which he convinced victims to invest money with him that he said he was using to buy properties. However, Manivong never bought any property and kept the money for himself.

The district attorney’s office said Manivong gave his investors phony deeds and documents to make them think the purchases were real.

Manivong had a real estate license through Pacific A.R.C. Real Estate, based in Turlock.

Manivong targeted other Asian-Americans for his real estate scam, including his uncle. Other victims included classmates at California State University, Stanislaus, friends and acquaintances. Some of the victims of the identity thefts have said they never met Manivong.

Manivong’s arrest and prosecution were brought about by a combined investigation by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.