5 year sentence recommended for former Baltimore Mayor

[The Patriot]

[Boats]

Prosecutors seek almost 5 years in prison for Pugh; Defense suggest 1
By: Greg Ng - WBALTV - 02-14-20
RE: https://www.wbaltv.com/article/prose...ence/30916298#

Video link: https://www.wbaltv.com/766aaefa-b44a...4-a881b1af6df4

BALTIMORE —
Federal prosecutors are recommending a sentence of almost five years in prison for former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, while her defense is seeking a year and a day.

Federal prosecutors said an investigation into Pugh began in February 2017 based on accusations she used her children's books as a ruse to raise money for her mayoral campaign and a new house.

Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 57 months. The case never went to trial and this new 90-page filing is loaded with details of what likely would have been used against Pugh in court.

In its sentencing memorandum, the government wrote, "The maximum sentence within the applicable guideline range provides an adequate and just punishment for Pugh's longstanding pattern of criminal conduct and serves to deter other would be corrupt politicians from breaching the public's trust."

Prosecutors painted Pugh as a scheming, win-at-all-cost politician who deceived not just buyers of her children's books, but even the FBI, when agents raided her house.

In a new detail, prosecutors said, when asked for her personal phone the day of the raid, she gave them a city issued iPhone instead. They called her personal number and they heard the phone ringing under the covers of her bed.

Prosecutors said Pugh used her position as both a state senator and mayor to solicit fraudulent sales of her "Healthy Holly" children's books. She then used the money to funnel cash to her campaign through fake donors and to fund the cash purchase of her house.

Prosecutors wrote: "Pugh deliberately engaged in a broad range of criminal acts while serving as Maryland state senator and mayor of Baltimore City. She used the stature of those elected offices to solicit fraudulent book sales that generated substantial revenue for her publishing business, part of which she used to influence her 2016 mayoral election campaign in violation of state election laws."

Prosecutors said Pugh "corruptly devised and executed a fraudulent scheme to exploit her public office for private gain" over seven years.

"Unfortunately, Pugh's conduct unquestionably added to the city's problems. The financial consequences from the negative national attention, and the enormous costs to the city in time, resources and manpower in order to deal with her sudden absence, are quite significant," prosecutors wrote. "As an educated businesswoman and successful politician, Pugh could have checked her moral and ethical compass and chosen to change course. She did the opposite and chose to double down on a path of rampant criminal deception to fulfill her ambitions."

Prosecutors said Pugh used a business she co-owned with Baltimore City Comptroller Joan Pratt called 2 Chic Boutique to hide $20,000 she received from J.P. Grant, a big city contractor, for her campaign. That caused the firm, prosecutors said, to file a false tax return in 2016.

Pratt is not accused of any wrongdoing. She told the 11 News I-Team she had no knowledge of the check.

Grant used his wife's name for the check, prosecutors said, because he thought it would draw less attention coming from a woman. Grant had already contributed the maximum amount of $6,000 to her campaign.

"Pugh laundered Grant's $20,000 through 2 Chic to fund additional straw donations to the Committee to Elect Catherine Pugh," prosecutors wrote.

Additionally, prosecutors wrote: "Pugh's seven-year scheme to defraud, multiple years of tax evasion, election fraud and attempted cover-ups, including brazen lies to the public, clearly establishes the deliberateness with which she pursued financial and political gain without a second thought about how it was harming the public's trust. It was not rash behavior."

Pugh, 69, was federally indicted on conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and two counts of tax evasion. Pugh was charged on Nov. 14, 2019, and the charges were made public Nov. 20, 2019.

Pugh entered a guilty plea Nov. 21, 2019, to four of the 11 federal charges filed against her -- fraud and tax evasion charges. The remaining charges generally get dismissed at sentencing, officials said.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 27.

Although Pugh's lawyers acknowledged she agreed to sentencing guidelines of almost four to five years in prison when she pleaded guilty in November, they now seek a sentence of one year and a day.

2nd video link: blob:https://www.wbaltv.com/549f3d8d-e978...e-b5b89bc8b37b

Her sentencing memorandum includes dozens of letters on her behalf, including one from Congressional candidate Kweisi Mfume. He asked for leniency for Pugh and urged the judge sentence Pugh to community service as opposed to prison.

Pugh's lawyers argue the former mayor is humbled and remorseful, saying her crimes have caused her embarrassment and shame.

Pugh's lawyers wrote in their sentencing memorandum: "Ms. Pugh's fall from grace, public humiliation and front-page national disgrace are powerful and significant punishments. She has already paid an extraordinary price for her conduct."

Lawyers cited Pugh's age -- almost 70 -- and her loss of income and assets, writing: "She will go from being an accomplished member of the community to being without home and without any assets. Ms. Pugh will not have a house to return to when she is released from incarceration."

The sentencing memorandum traces Pugh's childhood, including her high school graduation photo. It lists her initiatives as mayor and describes her a tireless elected official who slept just a few hours a night.

The sentencing memorandum offers no explanation for her crimes. Much of the memo is redacted.

Sections of the sentencing memorandum that address Pugh's psychological state are redacted. A poem she wrote in 2005 about being a politician is included; It ends: "Believe in me."

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Personal note: Eventually they get caught. Oh humble there are when they get nailed!
Oh well plenty of bed rest now.

Boats