Former MD Delegate Gaines Faces Up To 20 Years In Prison

PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, MD — Former Maryland Del. Tawanna P. Gaines, 67, of Berwyn Heights, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. The Prince George County elected official had served in the House of Delegates since 2001 and resigned less than one week before she was charged.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Windom said Gaines spent campaign money on personal expenses including fast food, hair styling, dental work, a cover for her swimming pool and an Amazon Prime membership. Gaines was charged earlier this month and the Oct. 7 court filing identified Gaines as defrauding her campaign and its contributors of more than $22,000.

Since June 2002, Gaines had used a campaign committee called "Friends of Tawanna P. Gaines" to raise money for her political campaigns. It was a regulated state election campaign committee with a designated bank account. Separately, Gaines controlled a PayPal account for donations that weren't disclosed in state campaign finance filings, a court filing said.

Gaines, who was vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, submitted her resignation to House Speaker Adrienne Jones on Oct. 4. U.S. Attorney Robert Hur of the District of Maryland said public officials are entrusted to make decisions in the best interests of their constituents "and not to use their positions of authority to line their own pockets."

She now faces up to 20 years for the one count of wire fraud and will be sentenced Jan. 3, the AP reported. The plea agreement with prosecutors also states Gaines must pay back at least $22,565.

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Wire Fraud Charge Prompts MD Lawmaker Tawanna Gaines To Resign