Charlotte, North Carolina, Democratic Councilwoman Tiawana Brown faces a federal indictment for allegedly spending COVID-19 relief funds on a lavish birthday party featuring a horse-drawn carriage and throne.

At a Glance

• A federal grand jury indicted Charlotte Councilwoman Tiawana Brown for allegedly fraudulently obtaining over $124,000 in COVID-19 relief funds
• Brown allegedly spent $15,000 of taxpayer money on a personal birthday party featuring a horse-drawn carriage, balloon arch, wall of roses, and rented throne
• Brown and her two daughters face wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charges, with each count carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years
• The councilwoman previously served four years in federal prison for other fraud charges
• Brown claims she has repaid the money, disputes the amount, and refuses to resign from the City Council

Councilwoman’s Extravagant Party Under Federal Investigation

Charlotte, North Carolina, City Councilwoman Tiawana Brown and her two daughters have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly defrauding COVID-19 relief programs of over $124,000. The Democratic politician allegedly diverted approximately $15,000 of these taxpayer funds to finance an extravagant birthday celebration for herself. The party reportedly featured luxurious amenities including a horse-drawn carriage, an elaborate balloon arch, a decorative wall of roses, and even a rented throne, according to federal prosecutors.

Federal Indictment Details Widespread Fraud

The indictment names Brown and her daughters, Tijema Brown and Antionette Rouse, as defendants in the scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Federal prosecutors allege the family submitted at least 15 fraudulent loan applications through either the EIDL program or the Paycheck Protection Program. The documents submitted allegedly contained numerous fabrications, including falsified tax forms that misrepresented business income and employee counts to qualify for relief funds intended for struggling businesses during the pandemic.

This isn’t Brown’s first encounter with federal authorities. Prior to her election to the Charlotte City Council, she served four years in federal prison on separate fraud charges. The current charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud each carry serious potential consequences, with maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison per charge if the defendants are convicted. The case represents another in a growing list of prosecutions targeting alleged misuse of pandemic relief funds across the country.

Councilwoman’s Response and Political Future

Despite the serious allegations, Brown has stated she will not resign from her position on the Charlotte City Council. She maintains that the alleged fraudulent activities occurred before she took office as an elected official. Brown has also disputed the $124,000 amount cited in the indictment and claims she has already repaid the money in question, though federal prosecutors have not confirmed this assertion.

Brown has emphasized her commitment to continuing her service to the community despite the legal challenges she now faces. The case has sparked debate among Charlotte residents about accountability for public officials and proper use of pandemic relief funds that were intended to help struggling businesses and citizens during the COVID-19 crisis. The alleged misappropriation of taxpayer dollars for personal celebrations has particularly angered many constituents who followed proper procedures during the difficult economic period.