BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) A California man has been sentenced to prison for a mortgage loan modification scheme that defrauded homeowners in Connecticut and other states.

Connecticut U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly says 33-year-old Aria Maleki, of Santa Ana, was sentenced Monday in federal court in Bridgeport to nine years in prison. Maleki pleaded guilty March 22 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Prosecutors say Maleki and others operated a series of California-based companies that falsely purported to provide home mortgage loan modifications and other debt relief services in exchange for upfront fees ranging from approximately $2,500 to $4,300.

Prosecutors say more than 1,000 homeowners suffered losses totaling more than $3 million through the scheme.

Daly thanked federal and state law enforcement partners in New England, New Jersey, California and Oklahoma for investigating.