Former Maryland Delegate Cheryl Glenn Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud, Bribery Charges
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A former state lawmaker who represented Baltimore and was a leading advocate for legalizing marijuana in Maryland pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal honest services wire fraud and bribery charges.
Former state Del. Cheryl Diane Glenn appeared Wednesday in federal court in Baltimore.
After the hearing, Glenn hugged FBI agents seated at the prosecution bench. She faces up to 25 years in prison.
— Paul Gessler (@PaulGessler) January 22, 2020
Prosecutors accused her of accepting more than $33,000 in bribes in exchange for sponsoring various bills, including work on measures relevant to the marijuana industry. Those bills included topics of medical marijuana licensing, opioid clinic laws and granting liquor licenses.
Court documents said a medical marijuana applicant complained about another company getting a growing license, to which Glenn compared herself to God.
"Miss Glenn allegedly responded, 'They know God and Cheryl Glenn," US Attorney Robert Hurr said.
In April, as leader of Baltimore City's delegation in Annapolis, Glenn urged then-Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign as allegations came out regarding Pugh's children's book scheme, all the while federal investigators were wrapping up their case on Glenn.
The Democratic lawmaker abruptly resigned her job as a state delegate days before her charges were unsealed Dec. 23.
Glenn was first elected in 2006 and chaired the Baltimore City delegation.
She faces up to 25 years in prison. Her sentencing is set for May 8.