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U.S. NEWS Saturday 4 January 2020
Ex-Maryland lawmaker sentenced to prison for misusing funds

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN criminal information. The
Associated Press Oct. 7 court filing accused
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A Gaines of defrauding her
former Maryland state law- campaign and its con-
maker was sentenced Fri- tributors out of more than
day to six months in prison $22,000.
followed by two months of Since June 2002, Gaines
home detention for misus- had used a campaign
ing campaign funds for her committee called "Friends
personal benefit. of Tawanna P. Gaines" to
Tawanna Gaines, a Demo- raise money for her po-
crat who had served in the litical campaigns. It was a
Maryland House of Dele- regulated state election
gates since 2001, also must campaign committee with
pay $22,565 in restitution. a designated bank ac-
Gaines, 67, of Berwyn count. Separately, Gaines
Heights, pleaded guilty controlled a PayPal ac-
in October to one count count for donations that
of wire fraud. She faced weren't disclosed in state
a maximum sentence of campaign finance filings, a
20 years in prison, but fed- court filing said. Tawanna Gaines, a former Maryland delegate, arrives at the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md.,
eral sentencing guidelines Gaines, who was vice for a hearing, Friday, Jan. 3, 2020.
called for a range of eight chair of the House Appro- Associated Press
to 14 months. U.S. District priations Committee, sub-
Judge Theodore Chuang mitted her resignation to tance," Jones wrote. latest in a string of criminal former state legislators in
wasn't bound by those House Speaker Adrienne Gaines' case marked the charges against current or Maryland in recent years.q
guidelines when he sen- Jones on Oct. 4. Defense
tenced Gaines, who must attorney William Brennan
report to prison by Feb. 24. said the guilty plea also
Gaines told the judge that will cost Gaines her state
she didn't want other pub- pension. "She has always
lic officials to be judged by been a dedicated public
her actions. servant," he said. "She was
"I took my oath very serious- not out for personal politi-
ly, but I fell short," she said. cal gain."
The judge said the prison Gov. Larry Hogan ap-
sentence reflects a need pointed a new delegate,
to deter others, particularly attorney Nicole Williams,
public officials, from en- to replace Gaines and rep-
gaging in "this type of cor- resent District 22 in Prince
rupt behavior." He called George's County.
her crime a "lapse in judg- Gaines' daughter and for-
ment" in an otherwise law- mer campaign treasurer,
abiding career. Anitra Edmond, pleaded
"It may not have seemed guilty in November to a re-
like a big deal at the time, lated charge of wire fraud.
but it undermines our citi- Edmond is scheduled to be
zens' faith in their democ- sentenced on Feb. 24. Ed-
racy," Chuang said. mond also took campaign
Assistant U.S. Attorney funds for her personal use
Thomas Windom has said and failed to disclose con-
Gaines spent campaign tributions on state cam-
money on personal ex- paign finance reports, ac-
penses including fast food, cording to a court filing.
hair styling, dental work, House Speaker Adrienne
a cover for her swimming Jones told The Associated
pool and an Amazon Prime Press on Thursday that a
membership. The prosecu- measure banning a fam-
tor, who recommended ily member from serving as
an eight-month prison sen- a legislative candidate's
tence, said Gaines made campaign treasurer will be
more than 200 illegal with- introduced.
drawals of money over Before the sentencing
three years, but it added hearing, Gaines' attorney
up to a relatively modest submitted more than a
amount. "There doesn't ap- dozen "character letters"
pear to be a reason for it," from her supporters, includ-
he said. "The defendant ing Jones. "I have always
does not lead an extrava- admired the way that, as
gant lifestyle." important as her political
Gaines resigned days be- life was, her family was al-
fore she was charged in a ways of paramount impor-