A federal court sentenced former Florida Democratic Rep. Corrine Brown to five years in prison Monday for fraud and conspiracy charges, according to WOKV. Brown was found guilty in May for fraudulently taking thousands of dollars from her bogus charity One Door for Education, concealing income on financial filings and filing false tax returns.
Brown’s former chief of staff Ronnie Simmons and his ex-girlfriend, Carla Wiley, who ran the bogus charity, were sentenced to 48 months in jail and 21 months in jail with a three-year supervised release, respectively.
Wiley and Simmons both pleaded guilty.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan ordered Brown to report to prison no later than Jan 8, according to the Florida Times-Union. It is not clear where she will serve her time.
Brown's attorney said he would appeal her sentence, the Times-Union reported.
Corrigan accepted the prosecution’s recommendation for reducing Simmons and Wiley’s sentences for their testimony against Brown.
While each fraud sentence carries a potential 20-year sentence and each conviction on taxes has a potential three-year sentence, it is highly unlikely that Brown will face that long of a sentence, First Coast News reported.
Brown’s presentencing report recommended she serve roughly seven to nine years.
It is also possible she could be sentenced to home confinement or to probation.
Brown’s associates told First Coast News she is preparing mentally for that possibility.
Brown previously tried to have her sentencing delayed, citing the fact she was displaced from her home after Hurricane Irma and health reasons.
If sentenced to prison, it is not clear when Brown would begin serving but it is possible she could report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons after the holidays.
Brown will be told in a letter by the bureau where she must report post sentencing.
Poster Comment:
Lock 'em ALL up ...
