Jacksonville, Fl — UPDATE: Former Jacksonville Congresswoman Corrine Brown has struck a plea deal in her federal fraud case. The longtime Democrat who served until her 2016 indictment on federal fraud charges was set for a second trial this September. Her original conviction was overturned and a retrial ordered.
In exchange, the government will dismiss all remaining pending counts and Brown will be sentenced to 32 months which she already served. Brown will also owe restitution to the IRS, totaling more than $62,000.
This morning, Brown pleaded guilty to just one of her original charges, Count 21, for corruptly endeavoring to obstruct or impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws. Count 21 claims that from 2008 through 2014, Brown knowingly tried to obstruct or impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws.
According to the plea agreement, Brown admitted to over-reporting her charitable giving by inflating total gifts to charitable organizations and non-profit entities including Edward Waters College (now University), the Community Rehabilitation Center and One Door for Education.
As she left the federal courthouse following the plea proceedings, Brown told reporters that she was appreciative of the support she received, and said she wanted the process to be over.
“We’re moving forward. So many people in the community have told me that they’re missing voices, and they want someone to, it’s been a silence”, Brown said.
She said she wanted to put ‘it’ behind her, and move forward.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A change of plea hearing scheduled for Wednesday morning could bring an end to the six-year federal court journey for former Jacksonville Congresswoman Corrine Brown.
READ: Original story on indictment of Corrine Brown
The longtime Democrat who served until her 2016 indictment on federal fraud charges was set for a second trial this September. Her original conviction was overturned and a retrial ordered.
RULING: Former Rep. Corrine Brown granted new trial
Brown served more than two years in federal prison until her released. It is unclear if she will serve any additional time upon the change of plea.
DEPTH: Detailing the specific charges facing former Rep. Corrine Brown
The original indictment charged her with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, sixteen counts of mail and wire fraud, one count of scheme to conceal material facts, one count corrupt endeavor to obstruct and impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws, and three counts of filing a false return.
The charges stem from the ties Brown and former Chief of Staff Ronnie Simmons have to an organization called “One Door for Education”.
The head of that group, Carla Wiley, pled guilty to wire fraud for allegedly collecting more than $800,000 in donations but using the money instead for personal gain.
Wiley agreed to cooperate as the government continued to build its case against two other co-conspirators who were unnamed in the court documents.
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