Former Tangipahoa Parish jail nurse accused of fraud, perjury

TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. (WGNO) — A former Tangipahoa Parish jail nurse has been indicted in connection with a fraud, drug and perjury investigation.

The Office of U.S. Attorney Duane Evans reported that 48-year-old Tonya Denise Brown was indicted on charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, false statement, false declaration before the court and use of a facility in interstate commerce in aid of an unlawful activity and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance on Friday, Sept. 26.

According to Evans, Brown is accused of wire fraud in connection with four different schemes.

Court documents allege that Brown used a nursing job at the Tangipahoa Parish jail to receive money by falsely promising assistance with state criminal prosecutions.

Brown is also accused of defrauding the HUD-funded Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s rental assistance program and “people by claiming that, in exchange for money, she would help them obtain disaster assistance benefits.”

Court documents state Brown faces charges of aggravated identity theft after allegedly using a notary’s identity as part of the rental assistance scheme.

According to Evans, Brown is accused of using the internet to sell oxycodone and dextroamphetamine-amphetamine. Browns also allegedly offered to sell oxycodone and hydrochloride pills.

Additionally, Brown’s indictment alleges that she made false statements to the FBI and lied to a judge.

Brown faces four counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, use of a facility interstate commerce in aid of an unlawful activity, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, false statement and false declaration before the court.

If convicted, Brown faces up to 20 years in prison with three years of supervised release for the wire fraud counts related to promising assistance with criminal cases, up to 30 years in prison with five years of supervised release for the wire fraud charges related to the Restore program and the FEMA program, up to two years in prison with one year of supervised release for the identity theft charge and up to five years in prison for the false statement, false declaration before the court count and use of a facility in interstate commerce in aid of an unlawful
activity charges.

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)