Romance scam hooks up Florida man with nine-year sentence in federal prison

FLORIDA – A Florida man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to 25 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering related to a romance scam involving online dating websites where the man purported to be a surgeon.

Brian Brainard Wedgeworth, 47, formerly of Tallahassee, Florida, and Center Point, Alabama, was sentenced last week to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty on May 19, 2022. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“Our citizens should not be preyed upon by fraudsters who steal through overtures of affection,” said Coody.

“With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating and vigorously prosecuting those who engage in all acts of fraud. Moreover, today’s sentence should serve as a significant deterrent to criminals of like mind.”

According to court documents, between October 2016 and March 2021, Wedgeworth devised a scheme to defraud women located across the country who he met through online dating forums by falsely representing that he was a physician to fraudulently obtain money and property from them.

In so doing, Wedgeworth made promises to the women to induce them to send him money and buy him jewelry and watches. Wedgeworth admitted to causing, or intending to cause, a total loss of over $1.3 million to over 30 women who he victimized as a result of his scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

According to court documents, Wedgeworth is also known as “Dr. Brian Anderson,” “Dr. Anthony Watkins,” “Dr. Brian Adams,” “Dr. Edward Chen,” “Dr. Brian Chris,” “Dr. Chris Williamson,” “Dr. Brian Christopher Williamson,” “Dr. Brian Edmonds,” “Dr. Brian Ammerson,” “Dr. Brian Lamar Wilson,” “Dr. Brian Wilson,” “Dr. Brian Mims,” and “Dr. Brian Lamar Sims.”

Wedgeworth’s federal prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. He will also be required to pay $1,161,325.82 in restitution.

The conviction and associated sentence was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the United State Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case.