Romance fraud has grown in tandem with an increase in the number of people using online dating sites

Methodology in Reporting About Brian Wedgeworth

This reporting is based on a five-month investigation into Wedgeworth and the case against him, which included a review of his federal court records as well as more than 400 pages of police reports and court documents from states outside of Florida where he has been accused – and in some cases convicted – of similar conduct.

It also includes excerpts from Johnson’s social media posts and podcast interviews, as well as interviews with Wedgeworth’s sister, Juanicca Wedgeworth, and Johnson’s oldest daughter, Tiffany Maximin. Johnson died a month before Wedgeworth’s indictment, but she spoke about her encounter with Wedgeworth to a Jacksonville television news station in 2017. With more users, there are more potential victims.

Wedgeworth has been dubbed the “Casamer” after allegations that he has made a career out of preying on women looking for love. According to the indictment, he pretended to be a wealthy doctor and surgeon. He has previously pleaded guilty to similar charges in Georgia and Alabama, including dozens of counts of fraud and forgery. According to court records, he was wanted by law enforcement in Ohio and Alabama when he was arrested in Tennessee last year.

Wedgeworth declined to comment on the case against him through his lawyer, Joseph DeBelder. Wedgeworth’s public defender, DeBelder, said, “Wedgeworth will not be speaking to any media under the advice of his counsel.” In addition to the federal case, https://kissbrides.com/fi/turkkilaiset-morsiamet/ at least seven women in five counties, mostly in the Southeast, have filed fraud complaints against Wedgeworth. Online communities have sprung up to help him connect with his potential victims. Some, like Johnson, have spent hours conducting amateur investigations into his whereabouts prior to his arrest in Tennessee.

Johnson combed social media and went on television, but she was unable to locate Wedgeworth after he vanished from her life. She, too, had no idea she had a chance at redemption. Johnson died just a month before Wedgeworth was charged, but her story is almost certain to play a role in the federal case in Tallahassee.

Trapping Tekesia Johnson

Johnson believed she had her path mapped out. She had been cutting and braiding hair for friends and family when they couldn’t afford salons since she was a teenager. She was well aware of the significance of appearance.

Johnson watched as her mother, Jacqueline Brown, lost not only her hair but also her confidence when she was diagnosed with kidney failure. Johnson looked for treatments and styles to help Brown regain control over her hair loss. Some methods yielded positive results for both mother and d, Brown passed away.

Johnson lost her most ardent supporter, but she gained the courage to take the risk. She left her job as a medical coder to open Perfected Creations, a salon and spa in Jacksonville. Like she had done for her mother in her final moments, she wanted to help others find and boost their confidence. Johnson was ecstatic about the business plan because it marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. A partner was the only thing that was missing.

Johnson set up a profile on Plenty of Fish to begin dating. The platform is trustworthy and completely free to use. In , she began messaging a man who identified himself as Brian L. Adams. Adams identified himself as a thoracic surgeon. He appeared to be well-educated, enthusiastic, and cautious. He requested that Johnson FaceTime him to verify her identity. She felt safe because she knew she could trust him. He did, however, inquire about Johnson’s financial situation at one point. For Johnson, this was a red flag. She admitted to Adams that she was bankrupt. She assumed that if he was a con artist, he would quickly lose interest. He didn’t do it.