A Florida man has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for his role in a fraud scheme involving rental properties in Western Pennsylvania. Paul Andrew Gulbronson, 59, formerly of Hudson, Florida, received a 78-month sentence followed by three years of supervised release after being convicted of wire fraud conspiracy. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines on September 9, 2025.
Gulbronson and his wife, Kelly Bonilla—who remains a fugitive in Panama—operated Citrona Homes from both Florida and Johnstown, Pennsylvania between 2017 and June 2019. The couple used Citrona to attract investors through telemarketing and online ads, promising them “fully renovated” homes rented to Section 8 tenants. However, records show that while Citrona bought over 100 distressed properties for about $2 million during this period and resold them for approximately $6 million, few were habitable and some were even vacant lots. Financial records indicate that investors lost nearly $5 million.
“Over the course of several years, Paul Gulbronson misled investors regarding the condition and status of their Citrona Homes properties in order to swindle millions of dollars from those victims, and then—upon learning that he was under investigation for these crimes—fled the United States, leaving dozens of dilapidated properties in his wake,” said Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. “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 with the Pittsburgh Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service added: “Gulbronson used a series of lies and misrepresentations to defraud investors into believing they had purchased fully renovated rental properties that would provide them with passive income. Instead of fulfilling his promises, he used their money to further the fraud scheme and pay for personal expenses, including restaurants, airline tickets, home furnishings, and lease payments for his residences in Florida. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service constantly strives to protect our customers from losing their hard-earned money through mail fraud schemes and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring those responsible to justice.”
Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General commented: “Paul Gulbronson willfully engaged in a $5 million fraud scheme to induce individuals to make investments on properties under false pretenses, including false statements that payments would be made with federal taxpayer dollars. HUD OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement and oversight partners to vigorously pursue those who seek to profit by abusing HUD-funded programs.”
Investigators found that photos displayed on Citrona’s website did not accurately represent available investment properties; instead they were staged images unrelated to actual listings. Gulbronson also told some investors that renovations would be completed at or soon after sale when this was not true; some properties sold were condemned or simply vacant land.
Citrona operated sales offices out of Holiday, Florida from June 2017 through May 2019 as well as a management office at 329 Market Street in Johnstown during part of this time.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Brendan T. Conway prosecuted the case.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti praised both the United States Postal Inspection Service and Department of Housing and Urban Development–Office of Inspector General for their investigative efforts leading up to this prosecution.
