Former contractor faces up to 20 years in prison after allegedly embezzling $1.5 million from charity
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A former contractor who allegedly embezzled $1.5 million from an annual charity fundraising program is facing up to 20 years in prison.
On Monday, Oct. 6, 43-year-old Linda Natelle Brown pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud after the Office of the State Inspector General's (OSIG) Criminal Investigations Unit was notified by the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) after more than $1.5 million had been reported missing by the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC).
Per OSIG, the CVC, operated by DHRM, is an annual charity fundraising program for Virginia employees.
She was a contractor for DHRM from September 2020 to April 2024, per OSIG.
According to authorities, OSIG's law enforcement team partnered with the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service to bring charges against Brown.
The office said Brown allegedly spent the embezzled funds on plastic surgery, luxury hotels, out-of-state property, payroll for her own business and beauty products, as well as a fish pedicure in Las Vegas.
Brown faces up to 20 years in prison, with her next sentencing date at 10 a.m. on Feb. 17, 2026.
