BALTIMORE _ Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh has asked for a sentence of one year and one day in prison in relation to her guilty plea in the "Healthy Holly" scandal that led to her fall from grace and resignation from office last year, with her attorneys arguing she already has suffered greatly.
"Ms. Pugh has become a tragic figure _ an inspiring person dedicated to helping her community who is now a disgraced, unemployed felon, and who has lost everything that she had," her attorneys wrote in a sentencing memorandum Friday that included some redactions. "We submit that, under the unique circumstances of this case, Ms. Pugh's immediate acceptance of responsibility, her age and (redacted) and her entire life's dedication to public service, the Court should impose a sentence of incarceration for one year and one day.
"Such a sentence, coupled with the loss of her entire career, the public dishonor, and serious economic loss that she has and will continue to suffer, would result in a significant punishment for Ms. Pugh's actions," her attorneys wrote.
Prosecutors asked Thursday for Pugh to be imprisoned for nearly five years. She is scheduled to be sentenced by a federal judge on Feb. 27.
The former Democratic mayor pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy and tax evasion after selling her self-published "Healthy Holly" books to several companies that do business with the city, and to the University of Maryland Medical System, where she sat on the volunteer board.
