A former Los Angeles film producer has been indicted on federal charges accusing him of defrauding victims of more than $12 million through schemes that prosecutors say involved Ponzi-style tactics, false COVID-19 testing invoices, and misappropriated film production funds.

David Raymond Brown, 39, was arrested in South Carolina after a federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned a 21-count indictment. He faces nine counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Brown made his initial court appearance on Wednesday in Columbia, South Carolina, and will be arraigned in California in the coming weeks.

Prosecutors allege Brown worked as a producer, unit production manager, and accountant on independent films, including the Oscar-nominated The Apprentice. From late 2021 through 2025, he is accused of diverting money from production accounts to his personal bank accounts, often by routing payments through a Studio City business he created called Hollywood Covid Testing LLC. That company allegedly billed productions for services “never rendered or already paid for” by submitting false or duplicative invoices.

In one instance, prosecutors say Brown solicited nearly $1 million from investors for a planned film about the Symbionese Liberation Army and the 1974 kidnapping of Patty Hearst. The film was never made, and the funds were allegedly redirected to Brown’s personal expenses.

The indictment further accuses Brown of misleading two individual victims. One was told their contributions would be used for real estate investments, while another believed their funds would finance films through a company Brown controlled, Film Holdings Capital. Instead, prosecutors claim Brown used much of the money to pay off earlier victims and maintain his lifestyle, creating what they describe as a Ponzi-like scheme.

To build credibility, Brown allegedly presented one victim with another person’s IMDb profile as his own and concealed damaging information about lawsuits and prior fraud accusations, including a 2023 Los Angeles Times article.

Court documents say Brown used victim funds to finance luxury purchases such as a 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon and three Teslas, as well as a new home for his mother. He also allegedly paid for private school tuition, more than $70,000 in surrogacy services, and approximately $99,000 to install a pool at his residence. Mortgage payments and other family expenses were also covered with the misappropriated funds, according to prosecutors.

If convicted, Brown faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge, up to 10 years for each money laundering count, and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for each aggravated identity theft conviction.

The Department of Justice emphasized that the indictment contains only allegations and that Brown is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Prosecutors contend Brown exploited his industry ties and reputation to solicit investments, only to divert the money for personal use.

Brown remains in custody in South Carolina while awaiting transfer to California. His next court hearing is scheduled for September 4.