Gaines Sentenced To Six Months

By Mark F. Gray
Staff Writer
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Former Prince George’s County delegate Tawana Gaines was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to federal charges of misusing campaign donations.   State prosecutors were asking for an eight-month prison term, while the defense team was hoping for home detention.

Gaines was facing the possibility of 20 years had she not taken a plea agreement. The plea agreement with prosecutors also forces Gaines to pay back at least $22,565 in misappropriated funding. Gaines’ daughter, Anitra Edmond, reportedly also pled guilty last November to similar charges and is expected to be sentenced in February.

The prosecution’s investigation successfully proved that Gaines used over $22,000 of her campaign funds for personal expenses for approximately three years.  Gaines reportedly used a PayPal account, which was not disclosed in her campaign finance records that was connected to the “Friends Of Tawanna P. Gaines Campaign Committee.” Prosecutors alleged she moved some of the earmarked portions of her campaign contributions into the account for her personal use between January 2015 and April 2018.  Evidence proved Gaines had been misusing funds for items such as food, hair appointments and dental bills, to which she ultimately pled guilty.  

According to the Maryland Matters website, Gaines was issued 13 campaign violations and charged $2,160 in fines since 2006, based on state records.

U.S. District Attorney Robert Hur said the incidents over a period of three years were a regular occurrence in Annapolis. Hur seemed to indicate that Gaines used her political influence for personal and financial gain.  However, there were never any charges filed which would have substantiated a portion of his post trial statement regarding how politicians shouldn’t “use their positions of authority to line their own pockets.”

“These types of cases stand for the proposition that the law applies to everyone,” Hur said. “No one is above the law.”

House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore) did acknowledge that while Gaines actions may have been wrong, she was a powerful voice for her County. 

“As elected officials, we have an obligation to uphold the public trust, both in office and in our campaigns,” Jones said in a statement. “We cannot sacrifice that trust for personal gain for ourselves or our family members.”

However, Jones did write to U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang, with approximately 12 others from the legislature and her district, in order to advocate for a reduction to Gaines’ sentence.

“She was always willing to go the extra mile for her Prince George’s County constituents,” Jones said.

Gaines made a brief statement to reporters while leaving the courthouse, where she assumed responsibility after the sentencing.  In addition, Gaines apologized to her colleagues in the Maryland General Assembly.  

“I take full responsibility for what I’ve done. I don’t want any of you to be judged by that. There are honorable people working there. I want to apologize to them for putting myself in this position,” Gaines said.

“I took my oath very seriously, but I fell short.”

Gaines represented Prince George’s County since 2001 and was the vice chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee.  The former state representative was also chairwoman of the Capital Budget Committee. However, she was forced to resign last October when the charges were filed.