The Latest: Former Rep. Brown found guilty in charity scam

FILE In this May 5, 2017 file photo, former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown walks to the federal courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla., where she is expected to retake the stand in her trial on federal fraud and tax charges. Brown found guilty, Thursday, May 11, of fraudulently taking hundreds of thousands from sham charity. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP)

FILE In this May 5, 2017 file photo, former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown walks to the federal courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla., where she is expected to retake the stand in her trial on federal fraud and tax charges. Brown found guilty, Thursday, May 11, of fraudulently taking hundreds of thousands from sham charity. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on the fraud trial of former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (all times local):

2:25 p.m.

Former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown has been found guilty of taking money from a charity that was purported to be giving scholarships to poor students.

The jury’s verdict on Thursday came after prosecutors accused the 70-year-old Brown of using hundreds of thousands of dollars from the One Door for Education Foundation for lavish parties, trips and shopping excursions.

She was found guilty on 18 of the 22 counts against her, including lying on tax and financial disclosure forms.

Brown, a Democrat who represented the Florida district that included Jacksonville since 1993, had pleaded not guilty to all charges including fraud.

Brown’s former chief of staff, Elias “Ronnie” Simmons, and One Door’s president pleaded guilty after their federal indictments for misusing the charity’s funds, and testified against Brown.

Simmons said Brown ordered him to take cash and checks from One Door’s account that was put into the congresswoman’s personal accounts.

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2 p.m.

The jury has reached a verdict in the fraud and tax evasion trial of former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown.

Judge Timothy Corrigan says the verdict will be read at 2 p.m. EST.

Prosecutors say Brown, a Democrat who represented the Florida district that included Jacksonville since 1993, funneled money from One Door for Education into her personal accounts.

She has pleaded not guilty, blaming her former chief of staff Elias “Ronnie” Simmons for stealing.

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9 a.m.

Jurors will return for another day of deliberations in the fraud and tax evasion trial of former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown.

The jury will return Thursday, a day after the judge excused on panel member who made comments about Brown and “higher beings.” That juror was replaced by an alternate, and the jury had to start its deliberations over again Wednesday morning.

Prosecutors say Brown, a Democrat who represented the Florida district that included Jacksonville since 1993, funneled money from One Door for Education into her personal accounts.

She has pleaded not guilty, blaming her former chief of staff Elias “Ronnie” Simmons for stealing.