Indictment Reveals Fraud, Flash, and Fallout
The carriage was rented. The balloon arch was arranged. The Louis Vuitton bags were tagged and paid. But according to a federal grand jury, the money wasn’t hers to spend.
Charlotte City Councilwoman Tiawana Brown was indicted alongside her two daughters for a scheme involving at least 15 fraudulent pandemic relief loan applications. The total? $124,165, allegedly extracted from taxpayer-backed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds between April 2020 and September 2021.
A Pattern—Not an Aberration
Brown is not new to the federal docket. In the 1990s, she served four years in prison for felony fraud. According to public records, she still owed over $53,000 in restitution as of 2010. And in 2024, she faced four eviction actions in Mecklenburg County alone.
This most recent case, filed May 21, 2025, alleges that Brown and her daughters fabricated tax forms, payroll records, and business histories to siphon funds meant for struggling small businesses. The indictment describes multiple LLCs, bank accounts, and aliases—including one loan application under the name “LaStephanie Brown,” an identity apparently constructed from her daughter’s middle name.
Balloons and Bagels, But No Business
One application linked directly to Brown’s nonprofit, Beauty After the Bars, ended up funding a $15,000 birthday party, complete with a rose wall, throne chair, and horse-drawn carriage. Another went to Louis Vuitton. No credible business operations were ever documented in SBA audits.
Antionette Rouse and Tijema Brown, Brown’s daughters and co-defendants, are each alleged to have submitted PPP applications with similarly inflated figures. One claimed $150,000 in 2019 revenue for a business founded in 2020.
Refusal to Step Aside
Despite mounting evidence and potential prison time, Brown has refused to resign from her seat representing Charlotte’s District 3. She described the charges as politically motivated and stated she has repaid over $20,000. Her council colleagues have not publicly supported her claim.
The ethical questions now eclipse the legal ones. While guilt must be proven in court, the city’s reputation is already on trial.
What Happens to District 3?
Under the Charlotte city charter, the Council may appoint a replacement within 30 days if a vacancy occurs. If not, a special election could follow—delaying District 3’s return to full representation and risking further stagnation in local governance.
Residents and partners alike have started voicing concerns. With active investigations and negative headlines, the district risks becoming a political liability rather than a legislative engine.
About the Author ☕🎒
Nell Thomas drinks her coffee black—unless she’s at Einstein Bros Bagels Ballantyne, where she swears by the honey almond shmear and a turkey sausage sandwich. Find her most mornings at 13736 Conlan Cir, wondering aloud why public ethics never come with napkins.
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Creative Commons License
© 2025 Strolling Ballantyne / The Charlotte Mercury
This article, “Party, Purse, Prison? Councilwoman’s Indictment Roils Charlotte,” by Nell Thomas is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Party, Purse, Prison? Councilwoman’s Indictment Roils Charlotte”
by Nell Thomas, Strolling Ballantyne (CC BY-ND 4.0)
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