Following an eight-day trial, Tiffany Brown was convicted of defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and a Georgia-based litigation funding company. The jury found her guilty of misrepresenting her ability to provide self-heating meals to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria under a nearly $156 million contract. She also fraudulently obtained $700,000 from the Litigation Funding Group of Georgia (LFG) by falsely claiming a settlement with a logistics company.
"Brown resorted to extraordinary lengths to defraud FEMA during a critical period when individuals were in desperate need of food resources during the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. He emphasized that their office would continue to pursue those exploiting natural disasters for fraud.
DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., remarked on the commitment to investigating fraud targeting vulnerable populations, while Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, condemned Brown's actions as greed-driven deception during a disaster.
The court learned that Brown submitted false proposals claiming her company could deliver 10 million meals per day and had partnerships with logistics firms like C.H. Robinson. However, Tribute Contracting LLC failed to meet these claims or secure necessary suppliers.
FEMA awarded Brown's company a contract worth $155,982,000 but terminated it after discovering non-compliance and fraudulent invoicing. Despite this termination, Brown continued submitting false claims about meal deliveries and attempted settlements with Total Quality Logistics (TQL).
Brown fabricated documents and personas to secure financing from LFG under false pretenses. Investigators later uncovered these deceptions.
Tiffany Brown is scheduled for sentencing on April 22, 2025. She faces multiple charges including major disaster fraud and wire fraud.
The case was investigated by DHS'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 are leading the prosecution.
For further information contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.