JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The government has released more of the evidence prosecutors used earlier this month to convince a jury that former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown was guilty of fraud and tax evasion.
Tuesday, News4Jax obtained photos of Brown and her chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons, depositing cash taken from a bogus charity's account into personal bank accounts.
The additional evidence obtained Wednesday includes a photo of a birthday cake for Brown's daughter that cost the charity $750. There numerous other photos of dignitaries, including Florida Rep. and former Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, at events honoring congresswoman that were funded by the charity.
The tabs ranged from $40,000 to $50,000 annually -- all paid by One Door for Education, the unregistered Virginia charity that was founded and run by Carla Wiley, at one time Simmons' girlfriend. No needy children attended these parties and no scholarships were handed out.
Wiley and Simmons pleaded guilty to related charges prior to Brown's trial and testified against her.
EVIDENCE: Gallery of photos | Corrine Brown's 2008 and 2010 tax returns |
CRC letter on Brown's $9,900 donation | Checks from Von Alexander made out to cash
Perhaps most telling was a photo of Brown and her daughter smiling in front of a One Door for Education banner and Brown's trademark slogan: "Corrine Delivers.
Other evidence included a flyer for a Beyonce concert where One Door paid for a skybox for Brown's friends, and One Door checks written to the Alexander Agency, run by Von Alexander, a former Brown staffer who testified she cashed the checks and sent the money to Brown. Prosecutors said Brown spent the money on a mother-and-daughter shopping trip to Los Angeles.
To date, Shantrel Brown's has not been charged with any crime. Neither has City Councilman Reggie Gaffney. Evidence shows Brown tried to claim a $10,000 donation for giving time to Gaffney's nonprofit -- Community Rehabilitation Center. Gaffney backed her claim, but Brown's CPA told her and the amount could not be deducted.