Tameka Barber defended her sister, Tiffany Brown, during a recent court hearing, describing her as a kind-hearted individual simply trying to maintain her sanity amidst the tumultuous proceedings.
“What has been perceived as an aloofness is my sister trying to hold on to her sanity,” Barber stated in court, emphasizing that the Tiffany Brown known to her is not the person described by prosecutors.
However, U.S. District Judge Steve C. Thrash took a starkly different view of Tiffany Brown’s actions.
He denounced Brown for her “multiple, blatantly fraudulent misrepresentations” that led to her securing a FEMA contract, which ultimately allowed her to steal $1 million from a litigation funding group.
“She lied about all of that,” Thrash declared, reiterating the depth of Brown’s deceit.
As a consequence of her actions, Brown was ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution to FEMA, the litigation funding group, and two meal providers with whom she had contracted.
In addition, she will spend five years under supervision after her release from prison.
Although her sentencing was delivered with a firm hand, Thrash permitted Brown—who has been on bond since October 2022—to report to federal prison in the coming weeks.
He recommended that she serve her time in a facility near Atlanta, aligning with the timeline of her niece’s graduation in May.
The courtroom was populated with supporters who painted a contrasting picture of Brown.
Her mother and aunt described her as a “strong, kindhearted go-getter,” one who encourages education among young people and actively contributes to her church’s community.
Despite their testimonials, the jury reached a guilty verdict in January, finding her guilty on 29 counts, including major disaster fraud and wire fraud.
This decision followed testimony from 22 witnesses, including FEMA officials, an FBI agent, and Brown’s former attorney, with Brown opting not to mount a defense.
Prosecutor Alex Sistla characterized Brown as “conniving and devious” during the sentencing hearing, asserting that she exploited FEMA’s urgent need for meals for hurricane survivors.
Sistla urged a sentence of 17 and a half years, arguing that Brown is a “serial fraudster” who has perpetuated lies to everyone around her.
In contrast, Brown’s attorney, Joe Austin, suggested a lesser 10-year sentence, arguing that Brown had made sincere attempts to fulfill her contract by allocating $100,000 to a meal supplier from the $255,000 she received from FEMA.
Austin contended that while Brown may have committed fraud, her intentions were not to cause significant financial harm.
Yet, it surfaced during the trial that Brown had misappropriated substantial funds for luxury items, including expenses on a trip to the Coachella music festival in California.
Brown had initially pledged to provide FEMA with 30 million self-heating meals within 30 days, promising to deliver one million daily in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
After securing the contract on October 3, 2017, she delivered only 50,000 nonconforming dehydrated meals to Florida for use in Puerto Rico before FEMA terminated the contract on October 19, 2017.
Despite the lack of compliance, FEMA paid Brown $255,000 for the meals that were delivered.
Brown’s web of deceit extended beyond the FEMA contract.
She was also convicted on several counts involving fraudulent efforts to secure loans exceeding $1 million based on a fabricated lawsuit settlement with a freight company she alleged was responsible for her failure to fulfill the FEMA contract.
The Legal Funding Group of Georgia fell victim to Brown’s deception, ultimately advancing her over $1 million.
Testimony revealed that Brown misused these funds to attend the Coachella festival and engage in lavish shopping excursions at Louis Vuitton outlets in cities such as Atlanta, Paris, and Dubai, reportedly spending around $41,000.
In light of the overwhelming evidence of her fraudulent activities, Tiffany Brown will now face the legal consequences of her actions.
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