Hollywood Producer Arrested in $12M Fraud Scheme

David Raymond Brown, a Hollywood producer known for his work on films including 'The Apprentice' about President Donald Trump's rise and the Jenna Ortega drama 'The Fallout,' was arrested on federal charges for orchestrating a $12 million fraud scheme. Prosecutors allege that from December 2021 through August 2025, Brown defrauded film production companies and private investors by billing for fake COVID-19 tests through a company he controlled, Hollywood Covid Testing LLC, and diverting funds intended for film projects into personal accounts. The indictment includes 21 counts, such as wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. Brown reportedly used the stolen funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, purchasing luxury cars, a home for his mother, surrogacy services, private school tuition, and even a film project about Patricia Hearst's 1974 kidnapping. To gain trust, he is accused of fabricating his credentials, including using another producer's IMDb profile, and concealing prior fraud allegations and lawsuits. If convicted, Brown faces decades in federal prison.