A man who allegedly bilked investors out of millions of dollars was extradited to Colorado to face serious criminal charges.

Federal authorities say William Walters, owner of Samurai Capital, preyed on unsuspecting investors in Douglas County by promising big returns on their money. He collected about $23 million and spent some of it on personal expenses while making nominal “interest” payments to some investors.

Walters was extradited from Argentina last month and faces several felony counts in the Ponzi scheme, including securities fraud and theft. He is in the Denver County Jail and was expected to be transferred to a detention facility in Douglas County.

The indictment says Walters also solicited investments from residents in other states, including Hawaii, Wyoming, California, Texas and Massachusetts, and directed the money into a bank account in Lone Tree. He presented false statements and materials to potential investors and did not disclose that he incurred significant losses between January 2001 and September 2006.

Walters issued promissory notes and agreed to pay investors principal plus 10 percent to 40 percent interest. Out of the $23 million he collected, about $16 million was paid out to investors. Some investors gave him as much as $1.5 million.