Former Jail Nurse Indicted on Federal Charges for Fraud, Drug Distribution, and Perjury

NEW ORLEANS - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TONYA DENISE BROWN (“BROWN”), age 48, of Tangipahoa Parish, a licensed practical nurse, has been charged on September 26, 2024 in a nine-count indictment.

The indictment charges BROWN with four counts of wire fraud, with each count alleging a different scheme.  In one alleged scheme, BROWN obtained money with false promises of assistance with state criminal prosecutions.  The indictment alleges that BROWN used a nursing job at the Tangipahoa Parish Jail to conduct the scheme.  The other three alleged schemes relate to disaster assistance.  Specifically, BROWN is accused of defrauding people by claiming that, in exchange for money, she would help them obtain disaster assistance benefits.  BROWN is also accused of defrauding the HUD-funded Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program, which provided grant funding to homeowners affected by disasters.  Additionally, BROWN is accused of defrauding FEMA’s rental assistance program that provided grants to help displaced disaster victims pay their rent.  BROWN is also charged with Aggravated Identity Theft for allegedly misusing a notary’s identity in the rental assistance scheme.

Further, BROWN is charged with two counts related to the sale of controlled substances.  Specifically, she is charged with Use of a Facility in Interstate Commerce in Aid of an Unlawful Activity, by using the internet to sell drugs, including oxycodone and dextroamphetamine-amphetamine.  She is also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by offering to sell oxycodone hydrochloride pills.

Finally, BROWN is charged with two counts regarding false statements.  One count charges BROWN with making a False Statement to the FBI.  The other count charges her for making a False Declaration Before the Court by allegedly lying to a judge.

The wire fraud counts alleging false promises of assistance with state criminal cases and false promises of assistance with disaster benefits are each punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release.  The wire fraud counts related to the Restore program and the FEMA rental assistance program are each punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release due to enhanced penalties for fraud involving disaster benefits.  The aggravated identity theft count is punishable by two years’ imprisonment and up to one year’s supervised release.  The False Statement count, the False Declaration Before the Court count, and the Use of a Facility in Interstate Commerce in Aid of an Unlawful Activity count are each punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release.  A fine of up to $250,000 may be imposed for each count except the Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance count, for which a fine of up to $1,000,000 may be imposed.  As to each charged count, BROWN also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.              

United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

United States Attorney Evans thanked the FEMA Fraud Investigations & Internal Inspections Division, Fraud Prevention and Investigations Branch for its assistance in this matter.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Assistant U.S.  Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.