Who is Tiawana Brown? Charlotte City Council member facing wire fraud indictment
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Council member Tiawana Brown indicted
Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown has been indicted on federal COVID loan fraud charges.
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Charlotte council member indicted on federal COVID loan fraud charges
Who is Tiawana Brown? Charlotte City Council member facing wire fraud indictment
Yet another controversy hits Charlotte City Council as Tiawana Brown is indicted
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How COVID relief funds were meant to be used, and how they were misused
Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown has been indicted on federal COVID loan fraud charges.
Brown and her two adult daughters face charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud used to falsely obtain pandemic relief loans, according to an indictment in federal district court and a news release from Charlotte’s U.S. attorney.
The indictment alleges the trio spent loan money on personal expenses, including a birthday party for Brown.
In a statement, Brown said the allegations are related to things that happened before she took office and characterized the charges as “a political attack” and “deliberate effort to interfere with” her reelection campaign.
Here’s what to know about Brown:
Who is Tiawana Brown?
Brown, 53, is a Charlotte native. She grew up in the Southside Homes Housing Projects, near South End.
She graduated from Myers Park High School and attended Johnson C. Smith University.
Brown is a certified peer support specialist and community health care worker, and she’s worked for American Airlines, according to her campaign website.
She’s a member of The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. She also runs a nonprofit for formerly incarcerated women and girls, Beauty after the Bars.
She is a mother of two and has a grandson.
When was Tiawana Brown elected to Charlotte City Council?
Brown was elected to the Charlotte City Council in 2023, winning 60.1% of the vote over two opponents in a Democratic primary with no incumbent seeking reelection.
She represents west Charlotte’s District 3 and is up for reelection later this year.
Tiawana Brown’s first term on Charlotte City Council
Brown serves on two Charlotte City Council committees: the Budget, Governance and Intergovernmental Relations committee and Housing, Safety and Community committee.
Since taking office, she’s been outspoken about issues surrounding economic mobility, including raising pay for city employees and airport workers.
Was Tiawana Brown formerly incarcerated?
Brown served four years in federal prison in her 20s on felony fraud charges.
She’s spoken openly about her experience, including giving birth to one of her daughters while incarcerated.
Brown was the first formerly incarcerated person elected to the Charlotte City Council.
What charges is Tiawana Brown facing?
The indictment announced Thursday against Brown alleges she and her daughters “conspired to execute a scheme to defraud” federal pandemic loan programs through falsified loan applications in 2020, the U.S. attorney’s statement said.
“Instead of using the pandemic relief funds to pay for qualifying expenses as purported in the loan applications, the defendants allegedly used the proceeds on personal expenses, including allegedly approximately $15,000 on a personal birthday party for Tiawana Brown,” the statement says.
The indictment alleges the birthday party included “a rented throne” and horse-drawn carriage, paid for from the bank account of Brown’s nonprofit that contained federal loan funds.
Brown faces charges including wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. attorney’s statement.
In her statement on the indictment, Brown said the “allegations concern actions that took place before I took office.”
“I am committed to continuing my work for the residents of District 3,” she said. “I trust in the legal process and am confident that the truth will come to light.”
What is Beauty after the Bars?
Beauty after the Bars is a Charlotte-based nonprofit founded by Brown.
The organization provides reentry services to women and girls released from incarceration.
The group also provides mentoring, job training and other support while also advocating for racial equity and economic mobility, according to the nonprofit’s website.
Who are Tiawana Brown’s daughters?
Brown’s daughters — Tijema Brown, 30, and Antionette Rouse, 33 — also face federal charges.
Tijema Brown and Rouse are both charged with wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, according to the federal indictment.
This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 11:24 AM.
