PA State Rep. Chris Rabb Reports Campaign Treasurer for “Unauthorized Withdrawals” Amidst Wider Embezzlement Scandal
Pennsylvania State Representative Chris Rabb has formally reported his campaign treasurer, Yolanda Brown, to authorities following the discovery of “unauthorized withdrawals” from his congressional campaign account. The allegations from the Philadelphia-based progressive lawmaker add a new dimension to a growing financial scandal surrounding Brown, a Florida-based consultant already facing accusations of six-figure theft from other political clients.
Deep Search: A Pattern of Financial Irregularities
While Rabb has not yet publicly disclosed the specific dollar amount missing from his “Rabb for Congress” committee, the accusations align with a troubling pattern identified in other jurisdictions. Deep search into Brown’s recent activities reveals she is currently at the center of a major controversy in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Just last month, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch’s political committee, “The Pelican PAC,” accused Brown of embezzling approximately $207,500. In that instance, campaign finance reports showed nearly a dozen unauthorized transfers to “O’Reilly Business LLC,” a company registered to Brown.
Furthermore, court records indicate that Brown, who has also operated under the name Yolanda Cheers, has a criminal history regarding financial mismanagement. In 2024, she reached a plea deal in Alameda County, California, related to felony grand theft and embezzlement charges stemming from her time as an accountant for a nonprofit in 2016. That case involved the misappropriation of roughly $330,000.
Background: The Candidate and the Campaign
Chris Rabb, a self-described “unapologetic progressive” and author of Invisible Capital, has represented Pennsylvania’s 200th Legislative District since 2017. He is currently running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, seeking to fill the seat left open by retiring Congressman Dwight Evans.
Rabb’s campaign is built on a “people-first” agenda, notably refusing corporate PAC money to maintain independence from special interests. The integrity of campaign funds is particularly critical for grassroots-funded candidates who rely on smaller, individual contributions rather than large corporate checks. Campaign treasurers are legally responsible for signing off on financial reports and ensuring compliance with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), making any breach of trust in this role a significant legal and logistical hurdle for a candidate.
Objections and Response
As of this report, Yolanda Brown has not issued a public statement regarding the allegations made by Representative Rabb. In the parallel case involving Mayor Ken Welch, Brown has reportedly not responded to demands for the return of funds, and Welch’s legal team noted they have ceased their contract with her and notified state and federal authorities.
It remains unclear if Brown has retained legal counsel specifically for the allegations in Pennsylvania. Without a direct rebuttal or explanation from Brown or her representatives, the “unauthorized” nature of the withdrawals stands as the primary narrative provided by the affected campaigns.
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