Prosecutor: Attorney stole $2.1M intended for charity and spent it on child support, cosmetic surgery

Credit: GREENE COUNTY JAIL

Credit: GREENE COUNTY JAIL

An attorney is accused of stealing millions from an estate that benefited St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and a nonprofit for kids and spending it on child support and cosmetic surgery.

Brian Matthew Wiggins, 36, is facing identity fraud, aggravated theft of $1.5 million or more, money laundering, grand theft, tampering with records and possession of cocaine charges, according to Greene County court records.

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He was charged on 55 counts, said David Hayes of the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office.

He is facing over 70 years in prison, if convicted on all counts.

“The bulk of the charges in the indictment allege fraudulent activity related to transfer of estate and/or trust funds from the estate of a man named Ronald Lentz,” Hayes said during a press conference Wednesday.

Lentz died in August 2018 Wiggins was the attorney of the estate as well as the trustee of the trust, which were valued at more than $3 million, Hayes said.

St. Jude’s and Smile Train, a nonprofit for children with cleft lips and palates, were the two main beneficiaries of the estate.

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Wiggins spent the money on child support payments, cosmetic surgery for a family member, houses, a boat, a car, gambling in Las Vegas and in Ohio and jewelry, Hayes said.

He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Friday.

A visiting judge from Franklin County has been assigned to the case.

The indictment stemmed from a Beavercreek police investigation.

Anyone with information on any other potential victims of Wiggins are urged to call detective David Holley 937-427-5520.

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Wiggins previously was indicted in November on grand theft and tampering with records charges, according to court documents.

The previous case was in connection to a $90,000 check in an estate issue in Greene County. He is scheduled to go to trial April 20.

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