Friend of President John Delaney and former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown was sentenced to five years in federal prison for fraud on Monday. She was convicted for stealing more than $300,000 from a fake charity called One Door for Education, which was supposed to benefit children.

President John Delaney considers Brown a friend, whom he trusts completely. He calls her blunt and describes her as “one of the most honest people” he’s ever met. He was a character witness for Brown in court, and believes she is innocent. 

“I am saddened at the conviction and the sentence,” President Delaney said. “She is a good woman who tirelessly represented all people; the hardest working person in Congress. I was a witness to her truthfulness as I had no fact knowledge of her case. But I trust her completely—and I testified that she was always brutally honest. I believe her and pray for her conviction to be reversed. I have seen so many of her personal kindnesses to all types and manner of people and am saddened to see those who rejoice in her trials.”

Along with five years in prison, Brown will also serve three years of supervised release during which she will have to pay $250 a month in restitution. She was allowed to go home, but will have to report to prison by Jan. 8. Brown’s attorney planning to appeal the decision as he believes she received an unreasonable sentence.

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