NEWTON, Mass. — A Newton-based therapist has agreed to plead guilty after secretly misusing $600,000 of his patient’s trust fund in an online investment romance scam, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Eric Brown, 76, is facing two counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in an unlawful monetary transaction. The charges were announced Friday in a press release.
The case stems from a 2022 incident in which a patient—who had received a $700,000 settlement after being struck by a drunk driver—appointed Brown as trustee. As trustee, Brown had complete control over the victim’s funds, which were intended to support their health and well-being.
Instead, federal prosecutors say Brown fell victim to an online romance scam and transferred $600,000 of the trust to overseas investments at the direction of the scammer, who posed as a romantic interest. He did so without informing the patient.
Authorities also allege that Brown deceived a family member into loaning him $310,000 by falsely claiming the money was for office building renovations. That money was also used to fund the scam.
If convicted, Brown could face up to 50 years in prison, nine years of supervised release, and fines totaling $1 million. A plea hearing has yet to be scheduled.
