Atlanta woman convicted of $156M FEMA fraud after Hurricane Maria
A dog roams the streets of the La Perla neighborhood in Old San Juan as residents prepare for a direct hit from Hurricane Maria on September 19, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)
ATLANTA - Tiffany Brown, 45, of Atlanta, was convicted on Jan. 17 of defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and a private litigation funding group in a case involving nearly $156 million in fraudulent contracts related to Hurricane Maria relief.
A federal jury found Brown guilty of 11 counts of major disaster fraud, 17 counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government money, and three counts of money laundering. She is scheduled for sentencing on April 22, 2025.
What we know:
In September 2017, FEMA issued an urgent request for 40 million self-heating meals per week to aid Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Brown, through her Georgia-based company Tribute Contracting LLC, falsely claimed she could deliver 10 million meals daily. FEMA awarded her a $156 million contract based on fraudulent promises, including fake supplier agreements and doctored documents.
Brown failed to meet the requirements, delivering only 50,000 non-compliant, dehydrated meals. FEMA terminated the contract but had already paid Brown $255,000 based on fraudulent invoices.
In a separate scheme, Brown defrauded the Litigation Funding Group of Georgia (LFG) by claiming a fake settlement with a logistics company, securing $700,000 in litigation financing. She fabricated emails, contracts, and personas to support her false claims.
What they're saying:
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr., emphasized that Brown exploited a natural disaster to enrich herself, saying, "Our office will remain vigilant in prosecuting individuals who exploit tragedies to commit fraud."
DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari and FBI Acting Special Agent Sean Burke echoed similar sentiments, vowing to aggressively pursue those who defraud the government and harm vulnerable communities.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI, with assistance from FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex R. Sistla and Jessica C. Morris prosecuted the case.
What's next:
Brown faces sentencing before U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., and could face significant prison time for her crimes.