JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A US representative from Florida who has been indicted on fraud charges told supporters she is being ‘‘persecuted’’ by federal authorities because she’s black.

Corrine Brown, a Democrat, and her chief of staff pleaded not guilty after being indicted last week on fraud charges and other offenses.

Brown proclaimed her innocence on her campaign website, saying the indictment was ‘‘very scary.’’ She wrote: ‘‘I’m not the first black elected official to be persecuted and, sad to say, I won’t be the last.’’

Brown, 69, and her chief of staff, Elias Simmons, 50, entered pleas in Jacksonville federal court. The 24-count indictment comes after an investigation into the purported charity One Door for Education Foundation Inc., which prosecutors say was billed as a way to give scholarships to poor students but instead filled the coffers of Brown.

Associated Press