A Michigan financial advisor has been charged with fraud for diverting funds placed with her for investment and using the money instead to buy a Pontiac Grand Prix, to help her boyfriend's baseball team and to buy jewelry and lion and tiger figurines, among other things.

Candice D. Campbell, doing business as CJ's Financial in Canton, Mich., has been charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Michigan with defrauding her clients of $1.19 million in 2009 and 2010. She is charged with persuadiing clients to take money from federally insured accounts and invest it with her, with the false guarantee that they would not lose the principal and gain 10% to 20% in profits, according to the court papers.

The criminal charges could entail prison time if Campbell is found guilty. The Securities and Exchange Commission had previously filed civil charges for the same fraud scheme and frozen her assets.

Prosecutors want her to forfeit the valuable goods she bought with the money, including diamond jewelry, televisions, iPods and computers. She also spent money on travel and other personal expenses. She told investors she was making profits as a day trader in penny stocks, the court papers say.

-Karen DeMasters