TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Aug 29, 2025

A Shelby County department head and his wife allegedly “misappropriated” more than $625,000 in public funds, the Tennessee Office of the Comptroller said Aug. 28. DeAndre Brown and his wife Vinessa Brown were both arrested Wednesday on 12 felony charges related to theft, money laundering and computer crimes, The Daily Memphian reports. The office also said its investigation identified more than $755,000 in “questionable disbursements” made by the couple that had no supporting documentation. DeAndre Brown, a convicted felon who was pardoned by Gov. Bill Lee in 2023, was appointed head of the Shelby County Office of Re-Entry in 2021, a department that helps formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into society. Investigators said the Browns diverted funds from their nonprofit, Lifeline to Success, to pay themselves improper compensation, make personal purchases such as meals, retail goods and a trip to Jamaica, and transfer money to other entities, including a church founded by DeAndre Brown. The comptroller’s report cited loose financial controls and violations of funding agreements as factors that allowed the misuse of money. Both Browns remained jailed Thursday on $100,000 bonds each.