Former Congressional Candidate Charged with Fraud

NORFOLK, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Hampton woman with fraud and theft of government property for allegedly stealing from the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

According to the indictment, Shaun Brown, 58, worked with JOBS Community Outreach Development Corporation (JOBS), a non-profit registered in Virginia. In 2011 and 2012, JOBS was a sponsor of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SFSP, a federally-funded program to feed children during the summer when free-lunch programs end at the conclusion of the school year. Brown was responsible for running the SFSP for JOBS, and in 2012, Brown and others submitted fraudulent claims for reimbursement. As part of the scheme, Brown would direct staff to inflate the numbers of children actually fed and falsify documents in order to obtain additional money. In 2016, Brown was the democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia’s 2^nd District.

Brown has been charged with wire fraud and theft of government property, and faces a maximum penalty 20 years in prison if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, Michael C. Westfall, Acting State Inspector General of Virginia, and Phyllis K. Fong, Inspector General for U.S. Department of Agriculture, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-169.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.