74-year-old Orlando man Jerald Clawson was arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for defrauding at least 10 victims in a complex real estate investment scam.
Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged Jerald Clawson, 74, of Orlando, with orchestrating a sophisticated Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 10 victims out of over $5.3 million. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Clawson in Orange County on August 28, 2025.
“This serial con-artist exploited the trust of hardworking Floridians to line his pockets. At 74 years old, he is still preying on victims without remorse,” said Attorney General Uthmeier. “Let this be a warning: no matter your age or history, if you exploit Floridians, we will find you, and we will bring you to justice.”
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The multi-agency investigation, code-named “Investment Blues,” was a collaborative effort between the FDLE, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
The case uncovered a scheme where Clawson, operating under the company names Azure Waterfront Consulting, LLC and Azure Waterfront (Real Estate), LLC, presented himself as an investment broker.
He lured victims into a “Fee-note Program” that promised exorbitant returns of 100-300% on purported real estate “hard money” or “bridge loans.”
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Victims told investigators they invested funds directly from their bank accounts. When the loans went past their due dates, Clawson would repeatedly assure victims that they would be paid, even as months went by with no return on their investment. The majority of the victims sustained a complete financial loss.
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