A federal grand jury has indicted Maryland Senator Nathaniel T. Oaks on eight additional criminal charges, superseded an indictment of wire fraud issued last April against the 70-year-old Baltimore politician.

The new indictment adds three counts of wire fraud and five counts for violations of the Travel Act against Oaks for allegedly accepting illegal payments in exchange for using his official position to benefit an FBI informant posing as an out-of-town businessman seeking contracts in Baltimore City.
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FOR BACKGROUND:

“Lollipop” was code word for cash, investigators say (4/7/16)
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The indictment alleges that between September 2015 and July 2016, Oaks, who represents Northwest Baltimore’s 41st District, filed false and fraudulent documents with the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) and the Maryland Department of Legislative Services to assist the businessman in obtaining federal and state grants.

In return, the government charges that Oaks was paid $15,300 in bribes. All of the money given to Oaks was supplied by the FBI, and the meetings between the state senator and the businessman were recorded, investigators say.

Oaks faces a maximum sentence of 105 years in prison for the nine counts.

His initial appearance in District Court in Baltimore has not yet been been scheduled, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.