Judge rules ex-lawmaker to be jailed during fraud appeal

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A federal judge has denied a request by ex-U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown to remain free while she appeals her fraud sentence.

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Corrigan on Wednesday said Brown has failed to raise a substantial question of law or fact in her argument for appeal, so she will have to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons in January.

The 71-year-old Corrine Brown was sentenced to five years in prison and three years’ probation for fraud and lying on her tax returns about a purported charity for poor students she used as a personal slush fund.

Brown’s attorney argued she would appeal the judge’s dismissal of a single juror during the trial.

The court found the juror, who claimed the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was innocent, was dismissed appropriately.