Ex-Rep. Corinne Brown Given Five Year Prison Sentence Over Sham Charity

Ex-Rep. Corinne Brown Given Five Year Prison Sentence Over Sham Charity

Former Florida Democratic Rep. Corrine Brown received a five year prison after a jury convicted her for mail, wire, and tax fraud connected to a bogus charity that should have given scholarships to poor children. From Politico:

The 71-year-old disgraced congresswoman’s chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons, got 48 months in prison, while the founder of the charity, One Door for Education President Carla Wiley, received a 21-month sentence for her role.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan said Brown abused the public trust to carry out a criminal conspiracy, the newspaper reported.

“This is a sad day for everyone,” said Corrigan after sentencing Brown to prison. “I was impressed with all the outpouring of support for you, and I think it’s a tribute to all the work you’ve done over the years. That’s what makes this all the more tragic.”

“This was a crime born of entitlement and greed, committed to supporting a lifestyle that was beyond their means,” said Corrigan. “Just think of the good that could have been done with that money if it would have been used for its intended purpose.”

Brown was also given three years probation. Brown’s attorney says her client plans to file an appeal.

The prison sentence marks the end of a legendary figure in Florida politics.

In 1992, Brown, of Jacksonville, was the first African-American from Florida to be elected to Congress since Reconstruction. She was best known for her slogan “Corrine Delivers,” a nod to the fact that she had knack for securing federal funding for her district.

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