JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A year after Jacksonville City Council members Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown were convicted on federal charges of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering, the two will stand before a federal judge and be sentenced for the crimes.
The Browns, who are not related, were found guilty last October on charges stemming from a federally-backed loan and a city grant obtained by a barbecue sauce business owned by Katrina Brown’s family.
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Sentencing was originally set for Jan. 27, but the hearing was postponed after Katrina Brown got a new attorney. The hearing was then moved to March, but it was delayed once more in May in response to defense motions.
U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard, who denied motions for direct acquittal and a new trial over the summer, has now set sentencing for Oct. 27.
In deciding to grant the previous request for a sentencing delay, the judge acknowledged the arguments made by prosecutors but said this case has been different from most in terms of the defendants’ representation: both initially had private attorneys, then asked the court to appoint their counsel.
Katrina Brown chose to represent herself at trial, then hired an attorney for sentencing, followed by Reggie Brown’s latest hiring of an attorney.