Gary Merten
Defrauded Investors
Case No. 20STCV38499 · Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles · Decision: October 20, 2021
Who is Gary Merten? A Court Record of Fraud, Contempt, and an Unpaid Judgment
In 2015, while operating Edge Innovations LLC with his wife, Pamela Yee-Merten — a company with a single product and no revenue — Gary D. Merten solicited investments ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 using false valuation documents claiming the company was worth $13 million. He promised investors an ownership stake while simultaneously selling overlapping interests to multiple investors at arbitrary prices without their knowledge. Pamela Yee-Merten is currently employed at Taral Plastics in Corona, California.
In 2020, one of the defrauded investors filed suit alleging fraud, breach of contract, and concealment. Merten never appeared in court. In 2021, the Los Angeles Superior Court entered a default judgment against him for $175,069.61 — a figure that represents just one victim out of many.
When ordered by the court to turn over assets to a receiver, he refused — and was found in contempt. A $1,500 fine was imposed and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. That judgment remains unpaid to this day. The outstanding balance with accrued interest is approximately $255,985.
As of 2026, Gary Merten serves as the Executive Director of Progress Works California, a 501(c) nonprofit charity organization headquartered in Torrance, California. The organization states that its mission is to train veterans in Artificial Intelligence and workforce development. Merten holds a position of public trust and organizational leadership at Progress Works California while the court judgment against him — entered by the Los Angeles Superior Court — remains fully unpaid and a bench warrant for his arrest remains active.
Individuals considering donating to, partnering with, or engaging in any financial relationship with Progress Works California or Gary Merten are encouraged to review the official court record. The full case documents — including the original complaint, the court's judgment, and the contempt order — are available on this site.
Gary Merten & Pamela Yee-Merten
Summary of Court Findings
Fraud Amount
$175,069.61
Total amount of financial fraud as determined by the court
Ruling
Liable
Court found the defendant liable on all counts
Date of Decision
10/20/2021
Date the court issued its final ruling and decision
Jurisdiction
Los Angeles
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Overview of the Case
The plaintiff filed a complaint against Gary Merten in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles on October 6, 2020, alleging multiple counts of financial fraud, breach of contract, and concealment. The complaint detailed a scheme in which Gary Merten used false valuation documents to fraudulently induce the plaintiff to invest in Edge Innovations LLC — a company with a single product and no revenue that Merten falsely claimed was worth $13 million.
Merten never appeared in court to contest the allegations. On October 20, 2021, the court issued its ruling finding the defendant liable on all counts and entered a default judgment. The court's decision included detailed findings of fact establishing the nature and extent of the fraudulent conduct.
The court ordered Gary Merten to pay a money judgment of $175,069.61, consisting of $150,000 in compensatory damages, $7,890.41 in prejudgment interest, $16,493.00 in attorney's fees, and $686.20 in costs. In post-judgment enforcement, the court appointed a receiver and ordered the turnover of specified assets. Upon Merten's noncompliance, the court held him in contempt, fined him $1,500, and issued a bench warrant for his arrest. The judgment remains unpaid.
Court Documents
Access the official complaint and court decision filed in this case. All documents are sourced directly from court records.
Court Complaint
The original complaint filed with the court detailing the allegations of financial fraud, the parties involved, and the relief sought.
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