Couple Indicted For Stealing Over $626K From Ministry
Lifeline to Success founder accused of misappropriating ministry funds
Lifeline to Success founder DeAndre Brown and wife, Vinessa Brown, were indicted and arrested for numerous felony charges on August 27.
Lifeline photo via Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury / Insert of DeAndre and Vinessa Brown via GoFundMe
Following a year-long investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, the Browns are accused of misusing $626,858.63 in ministry funds.
Lifeline, a Memphis-based nonprofit, provides re-entry services for former offenders. When DeAndre Brown launched the ministry in 2009, he taught daily ex-offender classes. Now, he works as executive director of the Shelby County Office of Re-Entry. Vinessa Brown is Lifeline’s executive director and handled payroll and finances prior to her arrest.
The Browns are accused of misusing more than $285,000 in nonprofit funds to pay themselves improper compensation from government grants. Numerous bank transfers as well as CashApp and PayPal transactions were processed to their personal joint bank account. Investigators determined that all compensation transfers were processed by Vinessa Brown.
Another $250,000 of personal purchases were made on the Lifeline debit card, including meals, season tickets, retail goods, hair appointments, a trip to Jamaica, and monthly subscriptions to various parties. Only the Browns had debit cards linked to the Lifeline checking account.
Vinessa Brown said she wrote checks to pay their mortgage in lieu of receiving compensation, claiming she was justified in using Lifeline funds for personal use since they hadn’t been paid yet. She also claimed DeAndre Brown continued teaching daily classes after he began working for the county in 2021, but Lifeline employees told investigators they rarely saw him at Lifeline. He continued to receive regular compensation through August 2024 despite this role change.
As pastor and founder of Lifeline to a Dying World Ministries church, DeAndre Brown diverted nearly $85,000 of Lifeline funds to the Dying World bank account. These funds were used for church transportation, Sunday food, communion, and financial gifts to Pastor Brown.
Lifeline Services, a for-profit account, was created to secure contracts with TruGreen, a landscaping company. According to a statement by Vinessa Brown, the attempt fell through. A total of $3,150 of Lifeline funds were deposited into Services, but investigators found no connection between this account and Lifeline’s mission.
Questionable disbursements totaling $755,307.81 consisted of CashApp transactions, Amazon and eBay purchases, restaurant transactions, and payments to Memphis Light Gas & Water (MLGW).
Vinessa Brown said she often used CashApp to pay blight patrol members who could not pick up their checks in person. She also claimed Lifeline would pay members’ electrical bills if needed, but she could not provide record of these events. Investigators are continuing to look into these transactions, but without documentation they cannot be confirmed as misappropriated.
DeAndre Brown is currently being held on a $1.1-million bond. He faces three counts of theft over $250,000, two counts of theft over $60,000, two counts of computer fraud over $60,000, two counts of computer fraud over $10,000, two counts of money laundering, and one count of official misconduct. Vinessa Brown faces similar charges and is being held on a $400,000 bond.
Makella Knowles is a freelance writer with an undergraduate degree in English from Gardner-Webb University. She completed the World Journalism Institute’s Young Professionals program and has written for Gardner-Webb’s Newscenter.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why does MinistryWatch report on financial fraud in the church? We report on them because one in three churches will be victimized, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. We also report on them because these crimes have real victims and cost taxpayers and other stakeholders billions of dollars every year. Even small crimes in small churches have huge consequences. We also report on them to remind our readers that they do not have to be victims. There are steps you can take to prevent financial waste, fraud, and abuse in your church or ministry. To find out more, click here.
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