Latest news with #TiawanaBrown
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indicted Charlotte City Councilwoman will have challenger in primary
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Tiawana Brown will have a challenger for her Charlotte City Council seat this fall. Democrat Montravias King told Queen City News he will attempt to unseat Brown in the primary set for Sept. 9. The incumbent, who was elected in 2023, is facing federal fraud charges, and says she will not resign from her post. Char-Meck FOP releases the final results from the no-confidence vote against CMPD Chief Jennings King is a former teacher, legislative assistant, and serves on Keep Charlotte Beautiful. District 3 covers southwest Charlotte and the Steele Creek neighborhood. Last month, Brown pleaded not guilty to federal fraud charges alleging she and her daughters conspired to obtain over $100,000 in COVID-19 relief money. At a town hall-style meeting May 28, Brown was not asked a single question about her indictment by her constituents. Most dealt with recent development and road projects. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Charlotte councilwoman Tiawana Brown largely avoids discussing indictment at town hall
Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown largely avoided discussing her federal fraud charges Wednesday in a town hall meeting — her second time facing constituents since being indicted. It took two hours for the indictment to come up during the event at the Good Shepard Church in the Steele Creek area. Instead, the vast majority of the town hall featured presentations from city staff on issues ranging from crime statistics to traffic and infrastructure. About 30 minutes of questions from attendees lined up at microphones followed, but no one asked about the charges. Only in her closing remarks did Brown allude to her situation, calling the last six days some of the most difficult of her life. Brown and her adult daughters, Tijema Brown and Antionette Rouse, were indicted last week on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud. Charlotte's U.S. attorney alleged they falsified loan applications for federal pandemic relief funds and spent loan money on personal expenses, including a lavish birthday party for Brown. They all pleaded not guilty during their first court appearance Friday, and she's pledged to stay in office and run for reelection. The 53-year-old Democrat is in her first term in office representing west Charlotte's District 3. She's the first formerly incarcerated person to serve on the Charlotte City Council. Wednesday's event marked one of Brown's first public appearances since the indictment. She spoke briefly to reporters while leaving court Friday and attended Monday's City Council meeting. The latter was her first time publicly facing constituents, and she spoke sparingly and declined to talk to reporters. At Wednesday's town hall, Brown largely served as a moderator. During the question and answer portion, where constituents primarily focused on the impacts of growth on District 3's infrastructure, Brown deferred to staff or offered to follow up with residents individually to provide a more detailed answer to their questions. Attendees at the meeting did not appear to have their questions pre-screened. In her closing remarks to the crowd, Brown said 'nothing has changed' and asked for prayers for her family. 'I'm committed to this community,' she said. '... I will continue to show up and do the work that I was elected by you to do. It's not my seat — it's your seat.' Brown then shook hands and exchanged hugs with some in the crowd. She told reporters as she left the event she wasn't surprised by the lack of questions from attendees about her indictment. 'They care about my service. They care about me as a human being,' she said. But some in the audience, including resident Christina Syndergaard, said getting clarity about the indictment was part of why they came out Wednesday evening. 'I don't know a ton about it, but what I do know is I'd like to see all the details that (prosecutors) have, what kind of incriminating evidence they have against her,' she said. Syndergaard, who voted for Brown in 2023, said she didn't feel like Brown did 'a good job' addressing the indictment during the town hall and wondered why no one asked about the case. She wanted to see the council member take a more direct approach to the issue. 'Be upfront about it,' she said. '... It didn't feel super transparent to me.' Observer reporter Desiree Mathurin contributed to this story.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents of indicted Charlotte City Councilwoman's district holding off judgement on fraud allegations
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Indicted Charlotte City Councilwoman Tiawana Brown met with constituents in Steele Creek Wednesday evening. The town hall-style meeting was her first district event since she pleaded not guilty to federal fraud charges. 'This has been one of the most difficult six days of my life,' Brown told the crowd gathered at Good Shepherd Church. The Department of Justice accused Brown and her two daughters of conspiring to fraudulently obtain more than $100,000 in COVID-19 relief money. District 3 residents who spoke with Queen City News at the meeting withheld judgment. Charlotte council member, daughters indicted for misusing COVID funds, including $15,000 birthday bash 'I don't want to be presumptive at all, I want to hear her side of the story and not just what's been in the news,' said Robin Emmons. Jerry Esposito said the indictment did not surprise him, but also said he still wants to see the legal process play out, adding that Brown should not resign. 'I don't know that resigning is the answer… resignation, that's pacifying those people that say it's an outrage, that doesn't rectify the problem,' he said. Brown was not asked a single question about her indictment during the event's Q & A portion. Most dealt with recent development and road projects. While on her way out, she was asked of she thinks her constituents care about the federal charges. She told reporters she is 'doing the job I was elected to do.' Brown has another hearing set for late June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Charlotte City Council member to be sworn into office Tuesday after Bokhari resignation
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The newest member of Charlotte City Council is slated to take his oath of office Tuesday. Council members selected Edwin Peacock III to fill the District 6 seat left open by last month's resignation of Tariq Bokhari. Peacock, a Republican, previously served two terms on the council and twice ran for mayor. He will take his oath at the council's 5 p.m. business meeting. It also will be the first meeting since two major legal matters have come about with council members. Police Chief Johnny Jennings' settlement details were revealed Sunday night when he announced his retirement, and Councilwoman Tiawana Brown pled not guilty Friday to COVID fund fraud charges. Peacock's abbreviated term will end in December, and he says he will not run for reelection in the fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Charlotte councilmember pleads not guilty to COVID fraud charges, refuses to resign
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — City Councilmember Tiawana Brown is speaking out and standing her ground after pleading not guilty to federal wire fraud charges related to COVID-19 relief funds. Brown, who represents Charlotte's 3rd District, made her first court appearance Friday morning alongside her two daughters, who are also facing charges. Federal prosecutors allege that Tiawana Brown, Tijema Brown, and Antoinette Rouse used fake tax documents to fraudulently obtain nearly $125,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans during the pandemic. One of the allegations claims Brown used part of the loan money to fund a lavish $15,000 birthday party, a loan she says she fully repaid. 'I paid it back…on my own…no one had to tell me to do that,' Brown explained. PREVIOUS: Charlotte council member, daughters indicted for misusing COVID funds, including $15,000 birthday bash Although Brown and her daughters are not being held in custody while they await trial, a federal judge has ordered that their passports be confiscated, meaning they cannot leave the country. Brown, who remained composed throughout the court proceedings on Friday, made it clear she has no intention of stepping down from her role on the city council. 'I am the city councilmember that was elected for the people, by the people,' she said outside the courthouse. 'You don't lose respect for allegations.' Her legal team says they aren't interested in negotiating a plea deal and are reportedly preparing for trial. No date has been set yet, but the trio has requested a jury trial. Brown also confirmed she plans to be at the next city council meeting on Tuesday, continuing her duties despite growing calls for accountability. This isn't Brown's first encounter with the justice system. She previously served four years in federal prison for fraud-related charges over 30 years 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
