BOSTON — Trust turned to treachery when a Newton psychologist, sworn to heal the mind, instead plundered his own patient’s $700,000 nest egg and even conned his own kin — all to chase the empty promises of an online temptress.

Eric Brown, 76, has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after federal prosecutors say he bled dry two people who trusted him the most — his psychotherapy patient and one of his own relatives.

Patient’s Pain, Shrink’s Scam

According to court filings, Brown was more than a therapist to one victim — he was the trusted guardian of their future. After a drunk driver left them badly injured, they received a $700,000 settlement. The victim appointed Brown as trustee of the fund meant to provide for their care, safety, and recovery.

Instead, prosecutors allege, Brown siphoned off the money to satisfy a cyber siren. Convinced he was in an “online relationship,” he wired more than $600,000 overseas at the direction of a scammer. The patient was left in the dark as their supposed protector gambled away their future.

Family Betrayal

The treachery didn’t stop there. Prosecutors say Brown turned on his own blood, luring a family member into handing over $310,000 with promises of office-building improvements. Instead, the money was swallowed up in the same digital fantasy.

Brown, once a trusted professional, now faces the iron fist of justice: up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and 10 years for money laundering.

A Confidence Game Unmasked

Prosecutors cast the case as a stark warning about misplaced trust in an age of digital deception. Court filings lay out how Brown drained both a vulnerable patient’s settlement and a relative’s savings to fuel an online fantasy, leaving those who trusted him blindsided.

The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the plea deal Friday, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto spearheading the prosecution.

By agreeing to plead guilty, Brown now faces the reality of federal sentencing. And in a city weary of swindles and betrayals, the spectacle of a Newton doctor funneling hundreds of thousands overseas stands out as one of the most brazen scandals in recent memory.