U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a Democrat from Florida, and her chief of staff have been indicted for fraud and other charges following a federal investigation into a fake charity Brown allegedly used as a “personal slush fund.”
Brown, who has served in Congress since 1993, was scheduled to appear in federal court in Jacksonville on Friday to face charges of mail and wire fraud, obstruction, conspiracy, and filing false tax returns.
The indictment is the result of an investigation in the One Door for Education Foundation, an organized tied to Brown that federal prosecutors allege was a fraudulent charity, and that Brown and her associates used “the vast majority” of its funds to enrich themselves.
The foundation’s president, Carla Wiley, recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in light of findings that she deposited $800,000 into the foundation’s account over a four-year period, and transferred tens of thousands of dollars to herself. During that period, the organization awarded just one $1,000 scholarship.
“Congresswoman Brown and her chief of staff are alleged to have used the congresswoman’s official position to solicit over $800,000 in donations to a supposed charitable organization, only to use that organization as a personal slush fund,” Assistant U.S. Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said in a statement.
Brown and her chief of staff, Elias “Ronnie” Simmons, are alleged to have transferred tens of thousands of dollars in cash from the foundation into Brown’s personal bank accounts, and used foundation funds to pay for lavish events.
Indicted Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL) has stepped down as top Democrat on House Veterans Affairs Committee.
— Cristina Marcos (@cimarcos) July 8, 2016
