PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 22 (UPI) -- An Oregon man used charity money given him to provide opportunities for American Indians for a condo in Thailand and other luxuries, federal prosecutors say.
Brian J. Brown, a former resident of Beaverton, Ore., was arrested Sunday as he arrived at Portland International Airport, The (Portland) Oregonian reported. A federal magistrate released him Monday but ordered him to surrender his passport and to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.
Brown was in Thailand when a federal grand jury charged him two weeks ago with stealing $4 million from National Relief Charities, a group based in Texas.
The Texas group is dedicated to improving the lives of Indians. Federal prosecutors say Brown had been president of the group until 2005, when he resigned and founded Charity One Inc., doing business as the American Indian Education Endowment Fund.
Brown and unnamed co-conspirators allegedly received sums of $100,000 to $200,000 from National Relief Charities and submitted false statements showing the money was being spent to provide educational opportunities.
