A Florida man was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison for his role in a $5 million wire fraud scheme involving dilapidated rental properties in western Pennsylvania. Acting US Attorney Troy Rivetti announced the sentencing of Paul Andrew Gulbronson, 59, of Hudson, Florida, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
Gulbronson, who ran the scheme with his wife, Kelly Bonilla, from Florida and Pennsylvania, was found guilty of wire fraud conspiracy. Bonilla is currently a fugitive residing in Panama.
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The Citrona Homes Scheme
From 2017 to mid-2019, Gulbronson and Bonilla marketed to out-of-state investors through telemarketing and internet ads under the moniker Citrona Homes. They claimed to sell “fully renovated” buildings in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and then rent them out to Section 8 renters, generating passive income.
However, detectives discovered that the truth was very different. Citrona bought over 100 distressed properties for about $2 million and resold them to investors for around $6 million. The properties, many of which were uninhabitable or even uninhabited lots, were sold for exorbitant rates. Photos on the company’s website were staged, depicting properties that did not accurately represent what investors were actually purchasing.
According to bank records, investors were defrauded of almost $5 million.
Justice and Accountability
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti applauded law enforcement authorities for their efforts to bring Gulbronson to justice. “Paul Gulbronson misled investors… to swindle millions of dollars from those victims,” he said. “As a result of the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, Gulbronson has been brought to justice and held accountable for his egregious criminal activity.”
Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge of the Pittsburgh Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, stated that Gulbronson utilized the ill-gotten riches to fund a luxury lifestyle, which included dining out, air travel, home furnishings, and lease payments for his Florida homes.
Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Brendan T. Conway, both assistant United States attorneys, prosecuted the case. The inquiry was led by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General.
