Disgraced US Rep. Corrine Brown was sentenced Monday to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for lining her pockets with money from a scam charity.
“This was a crime born out of entitlement and greed committed to ensure a lifestyle that was beyond their means,” US District Judge Timothy Corrigan said, according to the Florida Times-Union. “Just think of the good that could have been done with that money if it would have been used for its intended purpose.”
The 12-term congresswoman — one of the first black federal reps in Florida since the 1800s — raised more than $800,000 for the One Door for Education group, which she falsely claimed was a charity raising money for kids.
In reality, the group used only $1,200 for that cause, while it blew $300,000 on parties, box seats at a Beyoncé concert and pro football game and a golf tournament held in Brown’s honor. She also used the slush fund to repair her car and take vacations.
A federal jury convicted the 71-year-old Democrat in May on 18 of 22 charges she faced, including lying on taxes and congressional financial disclosures.
Two other people implicated in the scam were sentenced Monday — One Door president Carla Wiley and former Brown chief of staff Ronnie Simmons.
Wiley got 21 months and Simmons, who copped a plea deal to testify against his former boss, was sentenced to 48 months, the Times-Union reported.
Brown must turn herself in no earlier than Jan. 8.
With Post wires