Tiffany Brown, a 45-year-old from Atlanta, has been convicted of defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and a private funding group in a shocking $156 million scam related to Hurricane Maria relief efforts. Her actions left many in Puerto Rico, already struggling after the 2017 hurricane, without the meals they desperately needed.
Here’s what happened: After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017, FEMA urgently needed self-heating meals for those affected. They requested 40 million meals every week to help people get back on their feet. Tiffany Brown, through her company, Tribute Contracting LLC, promised big—claiming she could deliver 10 million meals a day. It was a bold promise, and FEMA awarded her a whopping $156 million contract based on her claims.
But it was all a lie. Brown submitted fake supplier agreements and doctored documents to secure the deal. In reality, she could barely deliver on her promises. Instead of millions of meals, only 50,000 arrived, and those didn’t even meet FEMA’s requirements. By then, FEMA had already paid her $255,000 based on fraudulent invoices before terminating the contract.
That wasn’t all. Brown also ran a separate scam against a company called Litigation Funding Group of Georgia (LFG). She convinced them to give her $700,000 in litigation financing by making up a fake settlement with a logistics company. To back up her story, she created fake emails, contracts, and even invented personas to sell the lie.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. didn’t hold back in condemning her actions. “Brown exploited a natural disaster to line her own pockets,” he said. “We will continue to pursue those who take advantage of tragedies to commit fraud.” Others, like DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari and FBI Acting Special Agent Sean Burke, also vowed to go after anyone who defrauds the government and harms vulnerable communities.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI, with help from FEMA’s legal team. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex R. Sistla and Jessica C. Morris handled the prosecution.
Brown was found guilty on January 17, 2025, of several charges, including major disaster fraud, wire fraud, theft of government money, and money laundering. In total, the jury found her guilty on 32 counts. She is now waiting to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. on April 22, 2025. Her crimes could lead to significant prison time.
This story is a stark reminder of how greed can hurt the very people who need help the most, especially in times of crisis. It also shows that justice is watching, ready to step in and hold people accountable for their actions.
