Boston ‘Monk’ Who Took Vow of Poverty Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining $3.6 Million in COVID Relief Funds
A Boston-area man who claimed to be an Orthodox Christian monk who had taken a vow of poverty has been charged with COVID relief fund fraud totaling $3.6 million in connection with several organizations he controlled.
Brian Bushell / Marblehead Brewing Co. Facebook
Brian Andrew Bushell, 47, along with his attorney Tracey M.A. Stockton, 64, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and unlawful monetary transactions by the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office Oct 14. They face up to 20 years in prison for the first charge and up to 10 years for the second.
According to the charging documents, Bushell, who presented himself as “Father” and “Rev. Fr.,” allegedly worked with Stockton to submit numerous applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to receive Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for several organizations he controlled, including an Orthodox Christian charitable foundation (St. Paul’s Foundation); a “monastic house” (Shrine of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Patron of Sailors, Brewers & Repentant Thieves); a residence for clergy, where he and Stockton lived together (Annunciation House); a monastic brewery (Marblehead Brewing Co.); and a craft saltern (Marblehead Salt Co.).
Stockton, a Massachusetts attorney, served as general counsel and authorized representative of the organizations.
The state’s attorney’s office said Bushell allegedly vastly inflated the organizations’ 2019 operational expenses on the applications to get larger loans, submitting false documents to support the numbers. As a result, Bushell and Stockton obtained $3.5 million in EIDL funds for St. Paul’s, St. Nicholas, Annunciation House, and Marblehead Salt.
Bushell, who claimed to have taken a vow of poverty, allegedly used some of the funds to buy more than $40,000 worth of Swiss watches, a $7,000 designer handbag for Stockton, and $2,400 worth of items from Hermès.
Bushell and Stockton allegedly spent more than $1 million on renovations to two Marblehead properties they planned to develop into a monastic complex, including a chapel, brewery, beer garden, $90,000 in audio/video equipment and nearly $40,000 worth of antique furniture. They also purchased a new residential property and furnishings for it.
Bushell and Stockton also submitted numerous applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds for Bushell’s organizations, allegedly overstating the number of employees and the amount of payroll expenses and obtaining an additional $146,000 in PPP funds.
“Pandemic relief funds are not ‘free money’ – they are a lifeline designed to help business owners and non-profit leaders experiencing real economic hardship,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Our government should not and will not foot the bill for fancy designer handbags and lavish lifestyles.”
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