Former congresswoman steals charity money from impoverished kids; sentenced to five years in prison

Former Congresswoman, Corrine Brown was yesterday sentenced to serve five years in prison for using charity donations meant for underprivileged students for personal use.

Brown was convicted months ago by a jury but on Dec 4th a federal judge sentenced her. Brown faced several allegations including fraud, lying on tax forms as well Congressional disclosures; which ended with Brown losing her seat. Amid the scandal, she also lost the primary election last year.

According to the Associated Press, officials accused Brown of using $800,000 of impoverished children’s charity money for her own.

She stole money from a bogus charity, One Door For Education, which purported to give scholarships to poor children but instead filled the coffers of Brown and her associates.

Federal prosecutors said Brown and a top aide committed fraud by using donations for lavish parties and trips. The aide and another official later accepted a plea deal and testified against Brown. But Brown testified that she was left in the dark about the goings-on with One Door's money, and blamed the theft on her former chief of staff, Elias "Ronnie" Simmons, who testified against her

Brown started her political career in the 1980s as a legislature and joined the House of Representatives in 1993. Brown served 25 years before she was convicted in May on 18 of 22 charges.