Former Maryland lawmaker pleads guilty to stealing campaign funds for travel, cosmetics

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (TND) — A former Maryland county councilmember pleaded guilty Monday to using more than $130,000 of his campaign committee funds for personal expenses.

Jamel Franklin, who served as a Prince George’s County Council member from 2010 to this past June, admitted to stealing the money from the “Friends of Mel Franklin” committee, which he set up to raise funds for his election, from 2020-23.

The former lawmaker transferred nearly $125,000 from the campaign’s bank account to his checking account for personal expenses like international trips and cosmetic procedures. He used $5,640 for surgery last year and $4,500 for a separate payment to a medical facility.

Franklin also put campaign funds to more than $6,000 in personal rent payments and $2,300 in loans. Approximately $1,500 went to a debt collection agency.

Third parties received an additional $8,700 in his committee’s money for personal expenses. This year, Franklin made a deposit with the campaign credit card for an international trip while funding hotel-stays with the money raised. Other funds went toward maintaining his car and telehealth appointments.

Franklin also pleaded guilty to perjury. Serving as the chairperson for his committee, he falsified information on campaign finance reports about loans and bank account balances to hide his illegal spending.

On a 2021 report, he said the committee’s bank account balance was roughly $104,000 when it was actually about $30,000. Franklin also reported he paid himself nearly $31,000 from the committee, even though he transferred more than $39,000 to his personal account. He signed the reports under the penalties of perjury.

“Friends of Mel Franklin” falls under campaign finance law, which requires committees to have a treasurer responsible for all transactions with their bank accounts. From 2009-20, Franklin was the only person with access to the campaign accounts.

“Elected officials should be held accountable if they violate the public trust and exploit the Maryland electoral process for personal financial gain,” Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton Howard said in a statement. “I’m proud of our office’s hard work in uncovering this extensive fraud.”

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.