Baltimore's ex-mayor has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for arranging fraudulent sales of her self-published children’s books to nonprofits and foundations. Catherine Pugh had pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and tax evasion charges.
and police abuses that led to massive riots. And it made a mockery of Pugh’s inaugural promise to restore trust in Baltimore’s leaders.under pressure in May as authorities investigated bulk sales of her “Healthy Holly” paperbacks, which netted her hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow to sentence the former mayor to nearly five years in prison, while“I think the first thing I should do is apologize to the citizens of Baltimore who put their faith and trust in me as their mayor, and to all the people who put their faith and trust in me as state senator and as delegate,” Pugh said outside the courthouse after the sentencing. “Nobody loves Baltimore more than I do ... and I know that Baltimore will move forward.
But U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow said she found it ironic that Pugh’s supporters flaunted her commitment to public service. “Now, on the day of her sentencing, both she and our city have an opportunity to move forward,” Scott said. “This moment reminds us that, as elected officials, we have one job: to serve the people, period.”
The University of Maryland Medical System — one of the state’s largest employers — was Pugh’s biggest book customer, and will receive $400,000 of the $411,000 in restitution payments. The remaining $11,000 will go to the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund.
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Former Baltimore mayor sentenced to 3 years in children's book fraud schemeThe former mayor of Baltimore was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday for arranging fraudulent sales of her self-published children’s books.
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Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison Over Children's Book ScandalLast May, former Baltimore mayor Catherine Pugh resigned from her position after news broke that she arranged for local nonprofits to buy a ridiculous number of her self-published Healthy Holly: Exercising is Fun children’s books, in order to conceal hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks. (According to the Baltimore Sun, Pugh struck a deal with the University of Maryland Medical System to spend $500,000 on 100,000 copies of her book—all while she sat on the board.) She was charged with 11 counts of fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy in November, and pleaded guilty soon after. As of Thursday, Pugh has been sentenced to three years in prison and three years of parole, CNN reports, after having made more than $800,000 from fraudulent sales. She was also ordered to pay $411,948 in restitution and to forfeit $669,688, as well as $17,800 from her Committee to Re-elect Catherine Pugh.
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