Another Black Mayor In Trouble With The Law!

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon was indicted on 12 counts of felony theft, perjury, fraud and misconduct in office yesterday after a lengthy investigation. Dixon who has actually been a very effective mayor has vowed of course to fight the charges. The Baltimore Sun reports that the investigation stems from at least $15,348 in gifts Dixon allegedly received from her former boyfriend, prominent city developer Ronald H. Lipscomb, while she was City Council president. She also is accused of using as much as $3,400 in gift cards, some donated to her office for distribution to "needy families," to purchase Best Buys electronics and other items for herself and her staff.

Dixon appears to have garnered a lot of goodwill from within the city. The possibility of an indictment has been hanging over her for a while, and she's she managed to reduce the city's homicide rate to a 20 year low during her tenure. The real problem that Dixon is facing is that if she's found guilty of just the felony theft charges she faces 15 years in prison. This can't be a favorable prospect for the 55 year-old mother of 2.