Lawrence E. Tipton, 48, Angela G. Tipton, 46, and Ebony Brown, 41, have been hit with a 12-count federal indictment for their alleged roles in a multi-faceted criminal enterprise. The Northern District of Ohio’s United States Attorney, Steven M. Dettelbach, announced the charges against the trio today.
The Tiptons are accused of conspiracy to evade payment of taxes and attempt to evade and defeat tax payments, with both Lawrence and Angela charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States. Ebony Brown is also charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, with three counts of distributing cocaine separately. All three defendants face various counts of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions.
From 2003 until 2014, Lawrence and Angela Tipton are alleged to have conspired to evade taxes by failing to report income and creating business entities to hide assets from the IRS. They’re also accused of using a trucking business, Palmyra Acres, to mingle drug trafficking proceeds with legitimate trucking profits.
Lawrence Tipton and Ebony Brown jointly conspired to distribute cocaine acquired in Texas and Florida across Ohio. Proceeds from the drug sales were used in various monetary transactions, according to the charges.
The potential sentences for these crimes are determined by the court after a review of individual factors such as prior records, role in the offense, and characteristics of the violation. Sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, which is typically less than the maximum allowed.
This investigation was a collaborative effort between the IRS and DEA, with Assistant United States Attorneys Robert E. Bulford and Samuel A. Yannucci handling the prosecution. It’s important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and does not prove guilt; defendants are entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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