January 3rd, 2020 by WCBC Radio

Former Del. Tawanna P. Gaines, who in October pleaded guilty to wire fraud, was sentenced Friday to six months in federal prison. Gaines was also ordered to serve three years of probation, the first two months of which would be on home confinement.

Defense attorney William Brennan asked U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang for a sentence of home detention alone, arguing she is not a flight risk and that the blow the case caused to her reputation and the loss of her pension served as sufficient deterrents.

Guidelines called for a prison sentence of eight to 33 months., Chuang said at a hearing in October.

Gaines and her campaign treasurer admitted to paying personal expenses with campaign funds. Prosecutors said she solicited $22,000 in campaign contributions, then diverted that money from her campaign account without reporting the contributions to the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Gaines, a 67-year-old Democrat from Prince George's County, resigned shortly before the charges were made public.