Federal authorities have arrested David Raymond Brown, executive producer of the film The Apprentice, in connection with a sweeping financial fraud case. Brown was taken into custody in South Carolina on Wednesday following a 21-count federal grand jury indictment that could result in a sentence exceeding 300 years.
According to the Department of Justice, Brown faces:
9 counts of wire fraud
10 counts of transactional money laundering
2 counts of aggravated identity theft
The alleged scheme ran from December 2021 through August 2025, during which Brown and co-conspirators reportedly defrauded film production companies, private investors, and others using fake documents, misrepresentations, and concealed facts.
The indictment also links Brown to unrelated fraud schemes, including fake COVID-19 testing costs and a real estate scam.
Lavish Spending With Stolen Funds
Authorities say Brown used the stolen funds to support a lavish lifestyle, including:
A 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon
Three Teslas
A 2024 Tesla Cybertruck
A new pool and mortgage payments
Private school tuition
Nearly $1 million toward an unproduced film titled Untitled SLA, about the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapping
Legal Ramifications
Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. Money laundering adds another potential 10 years per count, and aggravated identity theft requires a mandatory two-year sentence per count, served consecutively.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli described Brown as a “repeat offender” and vowed to pursue the maximum penalties.
Impact on The Apprentice
Brown’s arrest has not delayed the release of The Apprentice, which stars Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong and earned Oscar nominations despite political controversy at Cannes. However, the indictment raises questions about whether any of the film’s funding came from the alleged fraud.
What’s Next
Brown remains in federal custody and will be transferred to Los Angeles next month for arraignment. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation divisions are continuing to examine his financial records.
Prosecutors are expected to present additional evidence at the upcoming court proceedings.
