Charlotte, February 3, 2026
Tiawana Brown, a former Charlotte City Council member, is set to appear in federal court on February 9 for a plea hearing regarding her involvement in a wire fraud conspiracy. She faces charges of misusing COVID-19 relief funds, having fraudulently obtained over $43,000. This plea follows her indictment alongside her daughters, who are also implicated in the scheme. The allegations assert that Brown submitted false loan applications and misused funds for personal expenses, including luxury items and a lavish birthday party.
Charlotte
A plea hearing has been scheduled for Tiawana Brown in her federal fraud case in Charlotte for Monday, February 9. This development follows her agreement to plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy related to misusing COVID-19 relief funds. The former Charlotte City Council member is accused of fraudulently obtaining over $43,000 and attempting to receive an additional $20,000 from federal programs, including the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Details of the Charges and Plea Agreement
Federal court documents indicate that Ms. Brown formally agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy. As part of this agreement, federal prosecutors have stated they will not oppose a probation sentence, though the final decision on sentencing will rest with a judge. The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Ms. Brown was initially indicted in May on charges alongside her two adult daughters, Tijema Brown and Antionette Rouse, for their alleged involvement in the scheme. The cases against her daughters are still ongoing.
The indictment alleged that between April 2020 and September 2021, Ms. Brown and her daughters submitted at least 15 fraudulent loan applications. These applications contained false information and documentation, including fake tax forms, concerning business operations, employee numbers, and payroll costs. They falsely certified that funds would be used for qualifying expenses, such as payroll. Instead, federal prosecutors assert that the obtained funds were used for personal expenses, including luxury goods like Louis Vuitton merchandise and a lavish birthday party for Ms. Brown. The birthday celebration alone reportedly cost about $15,000 and featured a rose wall, a rented throne, and a horse-drawn carriage.
While the total amount of intended fraud was over $63,000, Ms. Brown admitted to fraudulently receiving more than $43,000. She had previously claimed responsibility for only about $20,833 of the money and stated she had paid it back.
Background and Public Reaction
Ms. Brown was elected to represent District 3 on the Charlotte City Council in 2023, becoming the first formerly incarcerated person to serve on the council. Her personal story of redemption was a central part of her campaign. She lost her reelection bid in September.
Upon her indictment in May, Ms. Brown had initially characterized the charges as a political attack and a deliberate effort to interfere with her re-election. She had previously pleaded not guilty and avoided answering detailed questions publicly about the case. Following the signing of her plea deal, Ms. Brown posted a video online, stating her intention to move past the issue and referencing the agreement for probation.
A book signing for her book, “Unbreakable,” is scheduled to take place two days before her plea hearing. The book reportedly begins with her learning about the fraud charges when federal agents arrived at her door last year.
Broader Context of Fraud Cases in Charlotte
This case is one of several fraud-related incidents that have drawn attention in the Charlotte area. Recently, on January 29, 2026, a Charlotte businessman and former owner of the Charlotte Checkers, Michael Kahn, was indicted on federal tax fraud charges. He is accused of transferring over $4.5 million from a charitable foundation he controlled to himself between 2020 and 2023 and failing to report these funds as income. Separately, in 2022, a Charlotte man was sentenced to prison for a multi-million dollar tax fraud scheme involving a tax preparation business where he directed employees to file fraudulent tax returns from 2014 to 2019. These cases highlight ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat financial misconduct in the region.
Key Features of Tiawana Brown’s Fraud Case
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Individual Involved | Tiawana Brown (Former Charlotte City Council member) |
| Primary Charge | Wire Fraud Conspiracy |
| Plea Hearing Date | Monday, February 9 |
| Amount Fraudulently Obtained | Over $43,000 (with an attempt to receive an additional $20,000) |
| Source of Funds | COVID-19 relief programs (SBA and PPP) |
| Alleged Misuse of Funds | Personal expenses, luxury goods, lavish birthday party ($15,000) |
| Co-conspirators | Tijema Brown and Antionette Rouse (Tiawana Brown’s daughters) |
| Previous Role | Charlotte City Council member (2023 election, lost reelection in September) |
| Maximum Sentence for Charge | 20 years in prison |
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Author: HERE Charlotte
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