A federal judge sentenced an Orcutt investment advisor to spend more than 10 years in federal prison for defrauding elderly clients of more than $2 million, culminating the downfall of the woman linked to several North County businesses.

Julie Anne Darrah, 52, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who will schedule a restitution hearing at a later date.

The judge leveled a 121-month sentence, or 10 years, one month, in federal prison for Darrah. She pleaded guilty in March to one count of wire fraud.

During the scheme, Darrah stole approximately $2.25 million from her firm’s clients, gaining their trust and taking control of their assets to transfer the proceeds to accounts she handled. 

Darrah’s attorney, Edward Robinson, sought a three-year prison term while Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry Quinn asked for a 10-year sentence. The statutory maximum was 20 years, federal officials said.

The federal prosecutor’s sentencing memorandum included statements about the toll of Darrah’s crimes on her vulnerable victims.

The son of one victim said Darrah stole his mom’s life savings. 

“I believe that the shock of this monstrous betrayal by a dear trusted friend pushed her deeper into dementia. Julie stole more money from my mom than from any of the other victims…” the son wrote.

Ahead of the sentencing hearing, several victims shared about the betrayal caused by Darrah.

“Before I learned of the SEC lawsuit against Julie Darrah and the evidence they had of her monstrous crimes, I would have told you that Julie is the most trustworthy person I know! She had masterfully manipulated my feelings of trust, and thus my judgement,” the son wrote.

Another statement from the friend of a victim also referred to Darrah’s criminal actions as “a deep betrayal of trust and kindness.” 

Darrah’s manipulation spread to his mom’s assisted living facility, her bank, her sister, her friends, and of course, his mom, the son added.

After selling his mom’s house, Darrah then drained all of her accounts, stealing her life savings plus proceeds from the house sale. 

“As the events were happening, we suspected nothing. But, in retrospect, the pattern was clear. Julie was systematically liquidating my mom’s assets and working her way into having complete control of my moms’ life – finances, assisted living, health care, everything.”

Darrah’s scheme including tricking his mom’s memory care facility into giving her the power to prevent the family from visiting. 

“Julie also changed the trust to make herself the sole beneficiary! I believe my mother’s dementia was triggered by Julie pushing her into assisted living when it apparently was not needed.” 

By the time investigators caught on to Darrah’s scheme, his mom’s accounts had been drained and her memory care facility could not be paid. 

This caused anxiety for the woman’s family about the possibility of eviction as the amount owed hit $120,000 while still growing.

“Julie Darrah is not just guilty of fraud. She is guilty of methodically taking control of my mom’s entire life and then putting my mom’s life in danger by stealing all the money needed to provide for essential memory care,” the son said. “Further, I am convinced Julie’s actions triggered my mom’s dementia and then accelerated her deteriorating condition.”

Darrah stole money from victims from approximately November 2016 to July 2023, according to investigators. 

She used stolen funds to buy properties for herself, pay other personal expenses, purchase  luxury vehicles, and operate other business ventures in the Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc. 

Her scheme unraveled after Vivid Financial sold in late 2021 to Minnesota-based Wealth Enhancement Group, which later filed a federal lawsuit against Darrah. That civil lawsuit led to a final judgment of $7 million against Darrah and for WEG along with an order banning the woman from contacting current or former customers of WEG and Vivid.

In its lawsuit, WEG referred to Darrah as a woman who established herself as a business leader and curated her reputation as a wealthy community patron.

The SEC soon followed with its own legal action, prompting the sale of Darrah’s various properties including several on the Central Coast. 

Authorities contend Darrah’s actions led the Minnesota firm to acquire Vivid Financial based on false and misleading statements and the concealment of facts, including her theft of individual client funds. After the fraud was discovered, the firm incurred approximately $5.4 million in losses, federal officials noted.

In October 2023, the SEC filed a civil complaint against Darrah in connection with this scheme. 

In December 2024, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer found Darrah liable to pay $2,416,511, including interest.