Brown told WCNC Charlotte she has no intention of resigning and plans on fighting the charges, claiming she is innocent.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown and her two daughters were indicted Thursday on federal charges for allegedly defrauding COVID-19 relief programs to obtain more than $124,000 in pandemic aid.
According to a release provided by the Department of Justice, Brown and her two daughters are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. WCNC Charlotte confirmed one of those loans, more than $20,000, was forgiven through the Paycheck Protection Program, for a business registered to Brown.
Brown released a statement Thursday morning, saying the alleged events happened years ago and have nothing to do with her time on City Council. She called it a “deliberate effort” to interfere with her reelection. Brown served four years in federal prison for a felony fraud conviction in the 1990s.
“It’s an effort to distract from the work I’ve done, the lives I’ve touched and the community I represent,” Brown said. “My commitment to justice, to equity and second chances remains unshaken. I trust the legal process and I remain focused on what matters the most to people.”
The indictment claims the group filed at least 15 fraudulent loan applications between April 2020 and September 2021, using fake tax forms and false documentation. Federal prosecutors say the money was used for personal spending, including $15,000 for a birthday party for Council member Brown.
Rob Heroy, Brown’s attorney, declined to answer specifics about the birthday party that were outlined in the indictment, saying it’s “not time to try the case.”
Brown admitted to paying back $20,833, claiming that’s all she was responsible for. She told reporters that the loan was paid back “a few months ago,” saying she got the loan because she was starting a new swimwear business.
“Nobody had to tell me to pay it back,” Brown declared. “When I found out there may have been some scrutiny with the application, I paid it back.”
When pressed about the $124,000 figure provided by prosecutors, Brown reiterated her claim that she paid back what she owed. Brown compared her situation to a recent case in Gaston County. Bobby Gerald Duncan, the owner of Hillbilly’s Barbecque and Steaks, agreed to pay over $1.5 million over alleged COVID-19 fraud. Brown questioned why Duncan was allowed to reach a settlement in civil court instead of facing a criminal indictment.
Brown says she has no intention of resigning and plans on fighting the charges, claiming she’s innocent.
“I want to be clear: these allegations concern actions that took place before I took office,” Brown said. “I have always been transparent about my past and have worked tirelessly to serve my community with integrity and dedication. I am committed to continuing my work for the residents of District 3. I trust in the legal process and am confident that the truth will come to light.”
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