Former Charlotte City Council member sentenced in COVID-19 fraud case – spectrumlocalnews.com

Former Charlotte City Council member sentenced in COVID-19 fraud case  spectrumlocalnews.com

A judge sentenced former Charlotte city council member Tiawana Brown to 10 months in federal prison. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison on Tuesday. Brown and her daughters, Tijema Brown and Antionette Rouse, pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal charges related to a COVID-19 fund fraud scheme between April 2020 and September 2021. They are accused of submitting at least 15 applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program funds with false information and false documentation to get $124,165 of COVID-19 relief money. Prosecutors also allege they submitted false statements to receive loan forgiveness of the PPP loans. Tijema Brown and Antionette Rouse were sentenced to two years of probation and four months of home detention.

During Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Tijema Brown’s attorney said she was the “driving force” behind fraudulently applying for the loans. However, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell said Tiawana Brown should have stopped the scheme from happening. Bell also said Brown “divided the city” by telling reporters in 2025 that she was innocent and claiming the investigation was politically motivated while knowing she was guilty. Brown’s family and friends packed the courtroom. Several women she mentored through her program, Beauty After the Bars, asked the judge to give her “mercy.” Bell