Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from North Star News
(Trice Edney Wire) – A 12-member jury in Florida has convicted former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (D., Fla.) of mail fraud, filing false tax returns and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
In all, Brown, a former member of the Congressional Black Caucus, was convicted of 18 of 20 felonies. The jury announced its decision on May 11.
Brown served in Congress from 1973 to 2017. She was defeated for re-election in the 2016 Democratic primary by Al Lawson Jr., a state representative. She represented Florida’s 5th Congressional District, which snakes vertically through the northeastern of the state. It includes portions of Duval, Clay, Putnam, Alachua, Marion, Lake, Seminole and Orange counties
The jury found Brown guilty for her role in Open Door for Education, a non-profit organization that claimed to provide scholarships for low-income students. Open Door raised more than $800,000 but only three scholarships were awarded.
Most of the money went to Brown’s former chief of staff, his girlfriend and to Brown herself to fund their lavish lifestyles.
Brown, who was born in Jacksonville, said she will appeal her conviction.
