Mayor Sheila Dixon of Baltimore was charged in a 12-count indictment today, including four counts of perjury, three counts of theft, fraudulent misappropriation, and misconduct in office. By the way, one of the counts of theft related to her stealing donated gift cards for the poor. Apparently she attended the Milorad R. Blagojevich School of Ethics.
Mayor Sheila Dixon was indicted Friday on charges that she accepted illegal gifts during her time as mayor and City Council president, including travel, fur coats and gift cards intended for the poor that she allegedly used instead for a holiday shopping spree.
A grand jury indicted Dixon on 12 counts, including four counts of perjury and two counts of theft over $500. She was also charged with theft under $500, fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary and misconduct in office.
The State Prosecutor’s Office, which has been investigating corruption at City Hall for nearly three years, said Dixon received holiday gift cards for four years from several people. Prosecutors said the gift cards were to be distributed to needy families, but were instead used by Dixon to buy electronics _ including an Xbox, a PlayStation 2 and a camcorder _ clothes and other merchandise and also handed out to members of her staff.
Apparently the charges relate to her inappropriate relationship with developer Ronald Lipscomb, whom she was having an affair with at the same time his company was getting tax breaks from and doing business with the city. Lipscomb gave Dixon several gift cards, which he proceeded to write-off as charitable contributions.
Not all of the gift cards were from Lipscomb, though. Another developer donated 20 Best Buy cards, 19 of which Dixon used for her shopping spree. Police searched her home and found multiple unused cards. Her failing to disclose the gifts, which are supposed to be listed on a statement signed under oath, is what amounts to perjury.
She should spend quite some time rotting just for the fact that she stole donations for the poor.
Via Hot Air.
by Stephan Tawney on Fri, Jan 9, 2009