Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown on Friday pleaded not guilty in federal court in uptown Charlotte to wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charges. She was indicted by the U.S. attorney Thursday over an alleged scheme to secure $124,000 in fraudulent loans during the pandemic.
Brown faces up to 20 years in prison for each charge.
After pleading not guilty and requesting a jury trial, Brown thanked U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Rodriguez for being kind.
The judge said she would allow Brown to travel throughout the U.S., in part to continue work she does with her nonprofit, Beauty After the Bars. It works to help women recently released from prison.
Rodriguez, however, did require Brown to give up her passport.
The indictment released Thursday said that Brown and her two daughters submitted fake tax forms to secure the COVID-era loans. It alleges Brown spent $15,000 of the money on an elaborate birthday party for herself in 2021, shortly after receiving one loan.
Brown has said she has paid that loan back, which was nearly $21,000.
She stayed in the courtroom as her daughters, Tijema Brown and Antoinette Rouse, also pleaded not guilty.
Tiawna Brown has said she won’t resign from City Council and plans to run for reelection this fall. Filing for the election starts in early July.
