Need further proof that the Democrats are the party of corruption?
A federal judge on Monday sentenced former Congresswoman Corrine Brown to five years in prison for fraud and related charges, Tampa Bay Times reports.
ICYMI | The usually outspoken #CorrineBrown didn’t have anything to say as she left court today with a 5-year prison sentence on her mind: https://t.co/VgzyeR8rLZ pic.twitter.com/Wo6cH862dA
— News4JAX (@wjxt4) December 4, 2017
Brown, 71, was well-known during her tenure as one of the first three African Americans to be elected to Congress from Florida since Reconstruction. During a career that spanned nearly 25 years, Brown represented a district that included Jacksonville.
On May 18, a federal jury found the former lawmaker guilty of the 22 charges against her, which included counts of fraud and lying on both her personal tax returns and congressional financial disclosures.
Brown’s fraudulent activities centered around the Virginia-based charity One Door for Education Foundation. The Congresswoman and her top aide used hundreds of thousands of dollars from the charity for parties, expensive trips, and shopping sprees.
One Door’s executive director Carla Wiley and Brown’s former chief of staff, Elias “Ronnie” Simmons, testified against the Florida Democrat in exchange for plea deals.
Video of #CorrineBrown praying before her sentencing hearing in #Jacksonville @jennaanjax pic.twitter.com/mjdicXGT3M
— ActionNewsJax (@ActionNewsJax) December 4, 2017
Simmons told the jury that Brown ordered him on dozens of occasions to transfer cash and checks from One Door to her personal bank account.
But Brown disputed the story, claiming Simmons acted on his own–without her knowledge. Her lawyers also sought a softer sentence in light of her service to the community.
Simmons will spend four years in prison and do three years of probation. Wiley received a one-year sentence, followed by three years of probation.
Brown and her former associates were ordered to turn themselves in to prison by January 8.
Between 2012 and 2016, prosecutors say Brown used One Door to raise $800,00–including major sums from a high-profile golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass. But charity ultimately only gave out a single $1,200 scholarship, according to court documents.
#CorrineBrown’s attorney says prison time was not necessary. Says the sentence serves as a signal pic.twitter.com/Qqew3fKOZp
— ActionNewsJax (@ActionNewsJax) December 4, 2017
Democrats may try to sweep this latest corruption scandal under the rug. But the underside of the rug is starting to run out of room.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
