Former Baltimore mayor pleads guilty in US case
BALTIMORE – The disgraced former mayor of Baltimore pleaded guilty Thursday to federal conspiracy and tax evasion charges in a case involving sales of her self-published children’s books.
Catherine Pugh pleaded guilty in federal court in Baltimore to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the government and tax evasion. But she pleaded not guilty to wire fraud. The pleas came a day after an 11-count indictment was unsealed.
The case involves sales of her selfpublished “Healthy Holly” books to non-profits and foundations to promote her political career and fund her run for mayor. Pugh, a Democrat who was elected in 2016, resigned under pressure in May.
Pugh faces a maximum of 35 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Robert Hur said that based on sentencing guidelines, she would probably be sentenced to about five years but that a judge would make the final determination. Her sentencing is set for Feb. 24.
Federal authorities say Pugh and two city employees double-sold the books or failed to deliver them to institutions they were purchased for, including the Baltimore City Public Schools. Pugh then allegedly used the proceeds to fund straw donations to her mayoral campaign and to renovate a house.
In court Thursday, Pugh spoke only to answer questions from the judge. After the hearing, she silently walked out of the courthouse flanked by attorneys and others and left in a waiting SUV.
Hur said the pleas showed “she betrayed the trust placed on her.”
A federal grand jury indictment returned on Nov. 14 also charged two Pugh associates, Gary Brown Jr. and Roslyn Wedington, who have pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax fraud.
Pugh became Baltimore’s second mayor in less than a decade to step down because of scandal. Former Mayor Sheila Dixon left office in 2010 as part of a plea deal for misappropriating gift cards meant for needy families.
The charges against Pugh came as the city has struggled with violent crime and other cases of public corruption, as well as a major police scandal.
The city has had more than 300 homicides annually for five straight years.
Corruption in Baltimore has regularly fed headlines.
Last year, state Sen. Nathaniel Oaks, a Democrat, was sentenced to 31⁄2 years in prison in a bribery case. This year, former Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to file federal tax returns. Baltimore also is still grappling with a major police scandal: A task force created to get illegal guns off the streets spent years ripping off drug dealers and stealing money from citizens.
Meanwhile, the police department remains under a federal consent decree requiring sweeping reforms.
Federal authorities began investigating city police following the April 2015 death of a young black man, Freddie Gray, who was fatally injured while in the custody of officers.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, who entered the job in March, has unveiled a plan to lower the high rates of violent crime. He also is seeking to transform a police department distrusted by many citizens because of past police misconduct.