Cordova man convicted of involvement in $5.9 million insurance fraud

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – A Cordova man was convicted for his involvement in a $5.9 million fraud scheme.

On October 17, Christopher C. Brown, 47, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay $5,214,302.00 in restitution following his conviction for a multi-year scheme to defraud four insurance companies.

While running a music recording studio on Monroe Avenue in Memphis, Brown filed claims with Main Street Assurance Company alleging losses of more than $340,000 due to water damage and a burglary at the business. Main Street settled Brown’s claims.

Brown subsequently secured insurance coverage for the same business location through Markel Corporation. Brown subsequently filed a claim with Markel for $2,840,000 alleging fire damage to the building, which was honored.

He then founded a limited liability company called Tattooed Millionaire Entertainment (TME). This helped Brown apply for insurance coverage without disclosing previous insurance claims.

Through TIME, Brown purchased a second building in Memphis on Rayner Street, which previously housed the House of Blues, a well-known recording studio. Brown obtained insurance for the Rayner property and music recording company from Hanover American Insurance Company.

He then later filed a claim with Hanover for alleged damages resulting from an arson that destroyed Rayner’s property, and Hanover paid him $2,200,000 for the claim.

During this time, Brown obtained progressive insurance for his 1985 diesel bus.

He then filed a claim with Progressive, stating that the bus had been stolen. Progressive settled Brown’s lawsuit for $109,580.

Brown’s claims to the four victim insurance companies included fraudulent representations and statements. This includes submitting fraudulent or altered documents to the companies.

In September 2023, Brown pleaded guilty to mail fraud.

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