Florida man sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for swindling $1.3 million from women by pretending to be a doctor on dating sites

• A man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pretending to be a doctor on online dating services.
• Brian Brainard Wedgeworth defrauded more than 30 women out of more than $1.3 million.

A Florida man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after swindling women out of their money and belongings by pretending to be a doctor on online dating services, The Department of Justice said Thursday.

Brian Brainard Wedgeworth, 47, posed as a physician in online dating services between 2016 and 2021, to scam women out of their money, according to a statement by the DOJ.

According to court documents, Wedgeworth made promises to women he met on these online dating services, offering to pay the victim's debts, including student loans and mortgages.

But Wedgeworth would meet his victims in person, and ask them to loan him money for fraudulent purposes, such as medical practice expenses or funeral expenses, according to court records. He also convinced them to send him money and buy him jewelry and watches, prosecutors said.

Police arrested Wedgeworth in November 2021 at the home of one of his victims after she allowed him to move in with her.

"Our citizens should not be preyed upon by fraudsters who steal through overtures of affection," said U.S. Attorney Coody.

Wedgeworth went by ten different aliases online and defrauded more than 30 women of more than $1.3 million, according to the DOJ.

On May 19, Wedgeworth pleaded guilty to 25 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering, according to prosecutors.

According to the statement, Wedgeworth will face nine years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and be required to pay $1.2 million in restitution.

According to the DOJ, the Wedgeworth case was part of a joint investigation conducted by the United State Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service.

"Rooting out fraudulent schemes furthered by the U.S. Mail, such as romance scams, remains a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service," said Juan A. Vargas, a lead postal inspector.