(ANNA GIARITELLI, WashingtonExaminer) Florida Rep. Corrine Brown and her chief of staff pleaded not guilty to24 counts of fraud and other federal charges Friday afternoon.
The 23-year Democratic veteran of Congress and Elias “Ronnie” Simmons, 50, were indicted earlier Friday after a federal investigation found that the two embezzled funds from a bogus charity. Brown and Simmons are charged with committing mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction and filing of false tax returns for the One Door for Education Foundation Inc.
Federal prosecutors said the defendants purported to give scholarships to poor students, but instead lined their own pockets with $800,000 in donations and grants they received.
But the lawmaker maintained she and her top staffer were innocent. Click here to continue reading
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