WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A Washington County man is filing a lawsuit against a Las Vegas dancer after he says an "extensive, fraudulent scheme" lasting ten years cost him over $35,000,000, according to court documents.
The lawsuit claims in 2014 the plaintiff, Fred Brunner, was going through a divorce and "decided to go to a Las Vegas gentleman's club to smoke a cigar and have a few cocktails."
That's where he met a woman.
The woman, who was reportedly a dancer, "made a significant amount of money from Brunner that night ... and learned Brunner was far wealthier than her normal patrons — wealthy enough to change her life," the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit claims the woman communicated with him daily while scheming to "form a make-believe relationship" with the ultimate goal of getting as much money out of him as possible.
Over ten years, Brunner claims the "woman hoodwinked him into thinking they were in an exclusive, romantic relationship." During this time, the lawsuit says she accepted a house and several trips funded by Brunner. Brunner also claims he would send financial support to the woman at "her specific request."
During the woman's alleged scheme, the lawsuit says she collected over $3 million from Brunner.
"Contrary to her countless representations to Brunner, the woman was in fact in a romantic relationship with another man in Las Vegas," the lawsuit says.
Additionally, the lawsuit claims the woman gave some of Brunner's money to the other man.
"All along, she had no intention of following through on her representations, doing only what was necessary to keep Brunner from being suspicious," the lawsuit alleges.
Brunner is seeking compensation and punitive fees from the woman amounting to $38,500,000, according to the lawsuit.
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