The daughter of former Maryland democratic lawmaker Tawanna P. Gaines has been charged with federal wire fraud, accused of using her mothers campaign funds for her personal benefit.
Anitra Edmond, 43, was charged by federal prosecutors on Monday, Oct. 28 in the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, less than two weeks after Gaines, 67, pleaded guilty to the same charge.
Less than a week before the former lawmaker was charged, Gaines resigned from the Maryland House of Delegates, where she had served since 2001.
Gaines admitted to spending $22,000 in campaign donations to pay for personal items and services such as hair appointments, an Amazon Fire TV stick, a cover for her swimming pool, and dental work.
According to court records, since 2005 her daughter Edmond had been the treasurer of “Friends of Tawanna P. Gaines,” the Prince Georges County Democrats campaign committee. The files state Edmond failed to disclose contributions on state campaign finance reports, and that she violated campaign finance laws in Maryland by misusing funds between November 2012 to about June 2018.
The court papers do not show how the funds which Edmond allegedly misused were spent, the Washington Examiner reported.
Stuart Berman, an attorney for Edmond, told The Washington Post that he and his client have no comment.
If Edmond is found guilty, prosecutors will seek at least $35,188 in forfeiture against her. She has been scheduled for an initial appearance and arraignment on Nov. 18.
Meanwhile, Gaines has been ordered to pay $22,500 in restitution and faces eight to 33 months in prison as part of her plea deal. The 67-year-old is set to be sentenced on JRead More – Source
