Tiawana Brown when she was a member of the City Council in 2025.
For the Observer
Former Charlotte City Councilwoman Tiawana Brown is expected to enter a guilty plea in her pandemic relief fraud case on Monday, Feb. 9, federal court documents show.
After initially calling the charges a political attack, Brown — who was the first formerly incarcerated person to serve on the council — agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, according to a signed plea agreement filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina last week. She was convicted of fraud in her 20s and gave birth to one of her daughters while in prison.
Brown and her two daughters were indicted in federal court in May. They are accused of misusing COVID-relief funds on Louis Vuitton items and Brown’s lavish birthday party, which featured a horse-drawn carriage and throne. All three are charged with wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy. Each charge carries up to 20 years in prison.
Brown posted a Facebook Live video after signing the plea deal last week, saying: “Whoever thought I was going to prison, you’re stupid,” Observer news partner WSOC-TV reported.
Federal prosecutors have said they are OK with probation for Brown, but a judge will decide what her sentence is if the plea deal is accepted.
A book signing before court
On Saturday, two days before Brown is expected to enter her plea in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler, she will hold a book signing for “Unbreakable” at Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Brown released the book in January. It opens with her learning about the fraud charges when FBI agents knocked on her door last year, she told The Charlotte Observer. In late January, she posted several videos on Facebook promoting its release.
Julia Coin
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