Several investors who entrusted their money to Gold Country Lenders throughout the 1990s and 2000s universally expressed dismay at losing significant portions of their life savings — as well as a strong sense of betrayal by people they trusted as friends. When Phil Lester, CEO of the Grass Valley real estate company, and Susan Leferte, the company’s CFO, attended a hearing in Nevada County Superior Court on Monday afternoon, many of those alleged victims were in attendance. Lester and Leferte have each been charged with 66 felony counts of conspiracy, securities fraud and elder abuse. Jim and Phyllis Shippen said …