Brown, chief of staff plead not guilty to fraud charges

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Orlando Sentinel:

JACKSONVILLE — U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown and her chief of staff pleaded not guilty Friday to fraud and other federal offenses outlined in a grand jury indictment unsealed after an investigation into what prosecutors call a phony charity turned into a personal slush fund.

 

Brown, a 69-year-old Democrat from Jacksonville, and Chief of Staff Elias "Ronnie" Simmons, 50, entered pleas in Jacksonville federal court on charges of mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction and filing of false tax returns.

 

Brown has represented a district that stretches south to Orlando since 1993. She is seeking re-election in a newly redrawn district.

 

The 24-count indictment comes after an investigation into the purported charity One Door for Education Foundation Inc. Federal prosecutors say One Door claimed it was giving scholarships to poor students but it instead filled the coffers of Brown and her associates.

________

 

Slush money.