Former Charlotte Councilwoman Tiawana Brown heading back to prison

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Former Charlotte City Council woman Tiawana Brown will spend 10 months in federal prison for her role in a pandemic relief scam. Brown and her two daughters were sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty to wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining more than $146,000 in COVID relief funds.

Brown’s daughters Tijema Brown and Antionette Rouse were each sentenced to two years probation and four months of house arrest. They’ll also have to pay back the Small Business Administration. Prosecutors say the defendants used the money on personal expenses including a $15,000 birthday party for Tiawana Brown.

Friends who came to support brown in court spoke after the sentencing. Dr. Kenny Robinson says, “She has done a lot for this community. These are the same things that I would’ve openly addressed to the court that she continues to be a shero of mine.”

Our WCCB crew at the federal court house says emotions ran high when Brown was sentenced and her daughter Tijema had to be escorted from the court room. The judge is allowing Brown to self-report to prison in January, but she says she’d prefer to start her sentence as soon as possible.