Ryan K. Buchanan, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
Tiffany Brown, a former government contractor from Atlanta, Georgia, has been convicted of defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and obtaining fraudulent litigation advances from a Georgia-based company. A jury found Brown guilty after an eight-day trial on charges related to a $156 million contract she received for supplying self-heating meals to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. stated, "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." He emphasized the commitment of his office and law enforcement partners to prosecute those who exploit natural disasters for personal gain.
Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General at DHS, remarked, "We will continue to investigate and support the prosecution of fraudsters who target vulnerable populations for their own gains." Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, added that "the FBI and our partners will aggressively pursue any person who seeks to defraud the government."
In September 2017, after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico as a Category 4 hurricane, FEMA sought 40 million self-heating meals per week due to depleted supplies from previous hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Brown's company, Tribute Contracting LLC, falsely claimed it could deliver these meals with misleading assertions about its capabilities and partnerships.
Despite being awarded a substantial contract by FEMA on October 3, 2017, Tribute failed to meet its obligations. The contract was terminated on October 19 after FEMA discovered misrepresentations about meal deliveries and supplier status.
In addition to deceiving FEMA, Brown also misled Litigation Funding Group (LFG) into advancing her $700,000 by falsely claiming a settlement with Total Quality Logistics (TQL). She fabricated documents and communications involving fictitious personas like "Jerry Rosenstein" and "James Wilson."
On January 17, 2025, Tiffany Brown was found guilty of multiple charges including major disaster fraud and wire fraud. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 22 before U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr.
The investigation involved collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI with support from FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex R. Sistla and Jessica C. Morris are leading the prosecution.
For further details or inquiries contact the U.S Attorney’s Public Affairs Office via email at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or phone at (404) 581-6016.
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