FILE – Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh delivers an address during her inauguration ceremony inside the War Memorial Building in Baltimore. The disgraced former mayor of Baltimore was charged Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, with fraud and tax evasion. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:24 PM PT — Wednesday, November 20, 2019
The former mayor of Baltimore is now facing federal charges in relation to sales of her self-published children’s books. An indictment released Wednesday charged Democrat Catherine Pugh with seven counts of wire fraud, two counts of tax evasion, and two other charges.
The indictment alleges Pugh conspired with a city employee to defraud buyers of her “Healthy Holly” books through methods such as not delivering purchased books and double-selling. She is also accused of filing false tax reports and attempting to avoid paying taxes on income from book sales by making up false business expenses.
BREAKING: Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh Indicted by Federal Grand Jury on 11-Counts of Wire Fraud and Tax-Related Chargeshttps://t.co/V7s9gcYpIj
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) November 20, 2019
Prosecutors called the people of Baltimore victims in the case.
“”A federal indictment has been unsealed charging Catherine Pugh with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of tax evasion,” stated Robert Hur, U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland. “There are many victims in this case, the victims or all of us, the taxpayers and the people of Baltimore who expect and deserve integrity from their public officials.”
Pugh, who stepped down back in May, is set to appear in court Thursday.
Maryland U.S. Attorney Robert Hur announces an 11-count indictment against former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh at a news conference in Baltimore on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. The disgraced former mayor has been charged with fraud and tax evasion involving sales of her self-published children’s books. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)