Council Member Tiawana Brown Indicted for COVID Loan Fraud
Federal Charges Detail Pattern of Fraud and Misuse
On May 21, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Charlotte City Council Member Tiawana Brown and her daughters, Tijema Brown and Antionette Rouse, on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with COVID-19 relief loan applications. Prosecutors allege the defendants submitted 15 fraudulent applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) from April 2020 through September 2021, collectively securing at least $124,165 in public funds.
Misrepresentations Across Loan Programs
According to the indictment, Tiawana Brown falsely claimed to operate a health services business founded in 2018, reporting eight employees and $142,000 in gross receipts. She submitted falsified IRS documents and payroll data to qualify for both Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds.
Antionette Rouse falsely certified on an EIDL application that she ran a “personal services” business with 12 employees and $131,000 in gross receipts. The SBA, relying on this misrepresentation, issued a $10,000 advance into a bank account under Rouse’s control. A subsequent application using the same details was denied after she failed to provide documentation.
In another instance, an EIDL application was submitted in the name of “LaStephanie Brown,” who shares a middle name with Tijema Brown. The filing listed inconsistent Social Security and banking details, leading investigators to allege deliberate misappropriation of others’ identities.
Lavish Personal Spending
Federal prosecutors allege the funds were not used for payroll or business recovery but instead paid for luxury personal expenses. Among them: a $15,000 birthday celebration featuring a balloon arch, rose wall, rented throne chair, and horse-drawn carriage. The indictment links these expenditures to Brown’s nonprofit, Beauty After the Bars, which purports to assist formerly incarcerated women.
Proceeds were also used for purchases from Louis Vuitton. These transactions, according to the indictment, highlight a willful diversion of public relief dollars for personal enrichment.
A History of Financial Violations
Brown’s prior legal history includes a felony fraud conviction in the 1990s. She served four years in federal prison, during which she gave birth to one of her children. Records show she still owed $53,093 in court-ordered restitution as of 2010, triggering federal garnishment actions.
In 2024 alone, she was the subject of four eviction filings in Mecklenburg County for failure to pay rent.
Refusal to Resign
Brown has rejected calls to step down. At a public statement following the indictment, she characterized the prosecution as politically motivated, asserting, “Justice don’t always look like people like me.” She also claimed to have repaid more than $20,000 in loans personally associated with her, though the government disputes the full restitution of funds.
Ethical Breach Beyond Legal Risk
Each count of wire fraud carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison. While legal guilt must be adjudicated in court, ethical responsibility in public office is determined in real time. The Charlotte City Council’s own ethics policy requires members to act in a manner that preserves public confidence and avoids even the appearance of impropriety.
Brown’s continued presence on Council during a federal prosecution for financial misconduct undercuts institutional integrity and compromises public trust in municipal governance.
Constituents Left Without Effective Representation
Residents of District 3 face uncertainty as their elected representative navigates criminal proceedings. Council collaboration and policy-making risk paralysis if members are unwilling to associate with a colleague under active federal indictment. Public and private stakeholders may also be reluctant to engage with her office due to reputational risk.
Mechanism for Replacement
Should Brown choose to resign or be forced out, the Charlotte City Charter authorizes the Council to appoint a replacement within 30 days. If no consensus is reached, a special election may be called, though that process is costly and time-intensive.
Sponsor Shout-Out ☕👕
This report is grounded in records, brewed with dark roast from Einstein Bros Bagels South Boulevard—the cheddar bacon sandwich pairs well with municipal finance fraud.
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About the Author
Jack Beckett covers legal affairs, political misconduct, and municipal operations for The Charlotte Mercury. He has read more court filings than restaurant menus, and he keeps a table reserved at Einstein Bros for indictment season.
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This article, “Council Member Tiawana Brown Indicted for COVID Loan Fraud,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Council Member Tiawana Brown Indicted for COVID Loan Fraud”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)
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