Key Takeaways
- • Tamara King, 56, a former real estate professional from the Seattle area, was sentenced to 55 months in federal prison after conviction on wire fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud charges in December 2025.
- • King and her ex-husband, Paul Waln, orchestrated a fraudulent investment fund scheme that defrauded 22 victims of more than $2 million, predominantly Seattle-area residents.
- • The conviction reflects ongoing enforcement action against real estate investment fraud, a persistent vulnerability in alternative investment structures where retail investors lack sufficient due diligence protections.
- • King, who previously held a broker license in Washington State (residing in Bellevue and Kirkland), blamed her ex-husband for the scheme despite joint conviction, suggesting internal disputes over culpability.
Summary
Tamara King, a 56-year-old former real estate professional with prior residency in Bellevue and Kirkland, Washington, was sentenced to 55 months in federal prison on Friday following her December 2025 conviction in U.S. District Court in Seattle. King was found guilty of wire fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud in connection with a fraudulent investment fund operation conducted jointly with her ex-husband, Paul Waln.
The scheme targeted 22 victims, predominantly residents of the Seattle metropolitan area, from whom King and Waln stole more than $2 million. The use of wire fraud as a primary charge indicates the scheme involved electronic communications or fund transfers across state lines, a common prosecutorial avenue for investment fraud cases. The inclusion of money laundering and tax fraud convictions suggests sophisticated attempts to conceal the source and movement of stolen proceeds.
During sentencing, King attempted to shift responsibility to her ex-husband, though both parties were convicted of the same charges. This dynamic is typical in joint fraud conspiracies where co-conspirators attempt to minimize individual culpability at sentencing. King's former status as a licensed real estate broker—a position of market trust—was exploited to solicit investments from victims who likely relied on her professional credentials and industry standing when evaluating the purported investment opportunity.
The case underscores vulnerabilities in real estate investment fund structures, where sophisticated fraud schemes can operate with limited transparency oversight. The 55-month sentence reflects the severity prosecutors attached to the multi-million-dollar theft from retail investors, particularly given the geographic concentration of victims in a single metropolitan market, which may indicate reliance on personal networks and referrals to perpetuate the scheme.
The scheme targeted 22 victims, predominantly residents of the Seattle metropolitan area, from whom King and Waln stole more than $2 million. The use of wire fraud as a primary charge indicates the scheme involved electronic communications or fund transfers across state lines, a common prosecutorial avenue for investment fraud cases. The inclusion of money laundering and tax fraud convictions suggests sophisticated attempts to conceal the source and movement of stolen proceeds.
During sentencing, King attempted to shift responsibility to her ex-husband, though both parties were convicted of the same charges. This dynamic is typical in joint fraud conspiracies where co-conspirators attempt to minimize individual culpability at sentencing. King's former status as a licensed real estate broker—a position of market trust—was exploited to solicit investments from victims who likely relied on her professional credentials and industry standing when evaluating the purported investment opportunity.
The case underscores vulnerabilities in real estate investment fund structures, where sophisticated fraud schemes can operate with limited transparency oversight. The 55-month sentence reflects the severity prosecutors attached to the multi-million-dollar theft from retail investors, particularly given the geographic concentration of victims in a single metropolitan market, which may indicate reliance on personal networks and referrals to perpetuate the scheme.
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