Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon Convicted of Embezzling Gift Cards Intended for the City's Poor

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has been found guilty on a single charge of taking gift cards intended for the city's poor. She was acquitted of a felony theft charge. She should be kicked out of office for her conviction. Jurors deliberated more than six days after hearing that Dixon was accused of using or keeping $630 worth of gift cards. She allegedly solicited most of the cards from Patrick Turner, a wealthy developer, and then bought electronics at Best Buy, clothes at Old Navy and other items at Target. For $630 Sheila Dixon has thrown her political career away. What a shame! I am sure her attorneys will file appeals, but the damage has already been done.

Dixon was convicted on one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary and acquitted her on two counts of felony theft and one count of misconduct in office. Jurors failed to reach a verdict on another count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. Source: Baltimore Sun

Miss Dixon has been under the cloud of the City Hall corruption probe for nearly four years, since she was City Council president. She was indicted in January.  She became Baltimore's first African-American woman mayor when she succeeded O'Malley in January 2007 after he was elected governor. She easily won a four-year term in November 2007. She remains very popular in Baltimore and it will be interesting to see how her conviction and sentencing will play out. Dixon, a divorced mother, is widely known for chic attire and a quick temper. During a 1991 debate at City Hall on redistricting, she reportedly caused a stir when she took off one of her shoes, held it up and told white City Council members: "Now the shoe is on the other foot." Gee, Mayor Dixon, how does the shoe feel now that's it's on the other foot?