The owner of a faith-based company is facing a lengthy prison sentence for ripping off dozens of people in real estate scams -- and it's not the first time he's been put behind bars for the scheme.

Anthony Carta, a self-professed man of faith, pleaded no contest to scamming hundreds of people out of thousands of dollars. His Freedom By Faith Ministries promised to help people having financial troubles but instead, the attorney general says he just took their money.

"There's a special place in hell for what he's done," said Terry Strother-Dixon.

Strother-Dixon is just one of the more than 100 victims of Carta's lies. The attorney general says from 2009 until 2013, his ponzi type scheme promised short sales, mortgage modifications and other real estate scams to unsuspecting clients.

RELATED: Man accused of using religion for a mortgage scam (2015) http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/man-accused-of-using-religion-for-a-mortgage-scam

"People of faith tend to want to do business with faith-based organizations," Terry said.


But prosecutors say instead, he preyed on people of faith and pocketed more than $300,000 dollars, more than $6,700 from Terry, who paid him to save her home from a sheriff's sale. He didn't, and she lost her house.

"Everything seemed legit. He has scammed some of the most intelligent prolific business-minded people that there are. I am not alone," she said.

In 2015, Carta pleaded guilty to the same charges he's pleading to now, seven charges of racketeering, including conducting a criminal enterprise.

But back in 2015, after pleading guilty, he appealed and it's taken this long for the case to work its way back through the courts with the latest action being his no contest plea this week. The 57 year old agreed to pay restitituion of more than $650,000.

Prosecutors say he could face up to 40 years in prison. He's scheduled to be sentenced May 15.