Former Baltimore mayor charged over children's book scandal

Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh was charged on Wednesday with wire fraud and tax evasion.

The allegations against the Democrat relate to sales of her self-published 'Healthy Holly' children's books…

including a 2011 deal with the University of Maryland Medical System, where she was a board member at the time.

It paid Pugh $500,000 dollars for 100,000 copies - which Pugh said would be donated to school libraries and day care centers.

But they were nowhere to be found…

As part of an investigation, this past April, Pugh's home and offices were raided. Thousands of copies of her book were reportedly found in a warehouse unread…

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors charged Pugh with using the proceeds of the book sales to fund straw donations to her mayoral election campaign and towards the purchase and renovation of a house in Baltimore.

U.S. Attorney Robert Hur for the District of Maryland said the people of Baltimore deserved better from their elected officials…

(SOUNDBITE) ROBERT HUR, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR DISTRICT OF MARYLAND, SAYING:

"There are many victims in this case. The victims are all of us/The people of Baltimore expect and they should expect that elected officials place their interests of their citizens above their own"…

Pugh, who was elected to a four-year term as mayor in 2016 and resigned in May, said in comments earlier this year it was a quote 'regrettable mistake'

Pugh gained prominence as a state lawmaker during the 2015 protests over the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died in police custody.

She is expected to appear in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore on Thursday.