Black Ex-Florida Democrat Congresswoman Convicted of Taking Money Meant for Charity

[Oh My Another Coon Crime!]

Corrine Brown, a former longtime United States representative
from Florida, was convicted on Thursday of taking for herself
thousands of dollars in donations that were meant to fund
student scholarships.

Ms. Brown, 70, served in the House of Representatives for more
than two decades and was one of the first African-Americans
elected to Congress from Florida. But she lost her seat in a
primary election in August, just weeks after she was indicted on
federal conspiracy and fraud charges.

In all, a federal jury in Jacksonville, Fla., found Ms. Brown
guilty on 18 of the 22 counts in an indictment that charged her
with conspiring with others to run the fraudulent charity,
filing false tax returns and other crimes, according to the
Justice Department. She faces a lengthy prison term. No
sentencing date has been set.

“Former Congresswoman Corrine Brown violated the public trust,
the honor of her position and the integrity of the American
system of government when she abused one of the most powerful
positions in the nation for her own personal gain,” Kenneth A.
Blanco, the acting assistant attorney general, said in a
statement. “She shamefully deprived needy children of hundreds
of thousands of dollars that could have helped with their
education and improved their opportunities for advancement, and
she lied to the I.R.S. and the American public about secret cash
deposits into her personal bank accounts.”

In a statement provided by her lawyer, James Smith, Ms. Brown
said that, while she respected the jury’s decision, she
disagreed with it.

“I did not commit these crimes, and I intend to file a motion
for a new trial,” she said. “This fight is not over, and as I’m
sure you know, I will continue to fight to clear my name and
restore my reputation.”

Prosecutors said Ms. Brown, a resident of Jacksonville, was
aided in the conspiracy by her former chief of staff, Elias
Simmons, known as Ronnie, and Carla Wiley, the president of the
fraudulent charity. Mr. Simmons and Ms. Wiley have pleaded
guilty to their roles in the scheme, the Justice Department said.

Brown participated from 2012 to 2016, according to evidence
presented at the trial. Through the fraudulent charity, “One
Door for Education — Amy Anderson Scholarship Fund,” prosecutors
said, Ms. Brown — along with Mr. Simmons, Ms. Wiley and others —
solicited more than $800,000 in charitable donations by telling
donors their money would be used to fund college scholarships,
school computers and other causes.

Donors testified that Ms. Brown sought donations from people and
businesses she knew through her connections in the House of
Representatives. But trial evidence showed that One Door awarded
only two scholarships totaling $1,200.

Instead of using the money to cover students’ education
expenses, prosecutors said, Mr. Simmons deposited tens of
thousands of dollars into Ms. Brown’s personal bank accounts.

“In one instance, Simmons deposited $2,100 of One Door funds
into Brown’s personal bank account the same day that Brown paid
$2,057 to the I.R.S. for taxes she owed,” the Justice Department
said in its statement.

According to the Justice Department’s statement, “trial evidence
also showed that more than $300,000 in One Door funds were used
to pay for events either hosted by Brown or held in her honor.”
Those events included a golf tournament in Florida, receptions
during an annual conference in Washington, and the use of a
luxury box during a concert and a professional football game,
prosecutors said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/us/politics/corrine-brown-
guilty.html?_r=0