Wellington Brown, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, Louisiana 2026

New Orleans Businessman Charged with COVID-19 Relief Fraud

NEW ORLEANS, LA (Grimy Times) – Wellington Brown, a 53-year-old businessman from New Orleans, has been charged with providing a materially false statement to the Small Business Administration in an application to obtain a government-sponsored loan designed to assist small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle, the maximum penalty for false statements to a federal agency is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

The charge against Brown was made public on March 31, 2026, when he was charged by bill of information. Courcelle reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation into this matter was led by the Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney, Richard R. Pickens, II, of the Financial Crimes Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.

Those with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For more information on the government’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

The charge against Brown is a serious one, and it highlights the importance of transparency and honesty when seeking government assistance. The consequences of providing false information can be severe, and it is essential for individuals and businesses to understand the risks involved.

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