NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. attorney's office in New Orleans says the entertainer who goes by the name Big Freedia has been charged with theft of government funds.

A bill of information filed Tuesday says the entertainer, whose real name is Freddie Ross Jr., illegally took money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The document provided few details.

The alleged theft happened between 2010 and 2014. Ross's first court appearance is set for March 16.

An attorney for Ross was not listed in the federal court file.

Fuse recently renewed a fifth season of the performer's docu-style reality television show, "Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce." The network says the show's fourth season was its best rated season among adults 18-34.