Another Democrat politician has pleaded guilty to corruption charges, this time in Maryland. Nathaniel T. Oaks accepted thousands of dollars from an FBI agent posing as a developer. It’s the classic case of padding someone’s palms with cash for favors.
The Baltimore Sun reports:
Former Baltimore Sen. Nathaniel Oaks pleads guilty to corruption charges
Longtime Baltimore legislator Nathaniel T. Oaks pleaded guilty Thursday to federal corruption charges — just hours after the Democrat formally resigned his Senate seat in the Maryland General Assembly.
Oaks, 71, appeared in U.S. District Court in Baltimore with his lawyers for an hourlong hearing and admitted to a pair of felony fraud offenses.
Kathleen Gavin, the top federal corruption prosecutor in Maryland, recited a 17-page statement of facts describing how the former lawmaker took $15,300 in payments in exchange for aiding an FBI informant posing as an out-of-town developer.
When Gavin was done, Judge Richard D. Bennett asked Oaks if he had indeed committed the crimes.
“Yes,” Oaks replied.
The rapid turn of events — Oaks resigning and pleading guilty in the same morning — brought an abrupt end to a case that was weeks away from trial.
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Sentencing has been scheduled for July 17. Federal guidelines call for Oaks to receive eight to 10 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, eight other charges against Oaks will be dropped.
Will he actually go to jail, or will he get off with a slap on the wrist?
(Image:Source)
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