Former Prince George’s Councilmember Mel Franklin Pleads Guilty In Campaign Theft

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Former Prince George’s County Council member Jamel “Mel” Franklin pleaded guilty Monday in a felony theft scheme that used about $130,000 in campaign funds to pay for personal expenses, including cosmetic procedures for himself and a friend.

Franklin resigned from his at-large seat in June after serving 14 years on the council.

The Maryland State Prosecutor handled the case, and said Franklin pleaded guilty to a charge of felony theft scheme over $100,000, and a perjury charge. Sentencing has been set for Nov. 13 in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County.

According to court documents, Franklin served as the council member representing District 9 from 2010 to 2018 and was the at-large council member representing all of Prince George’s County from 2018 through June 2024. He established his campaign committee “Friends of Mel Franklin” in 2009 to raise money for his election to the Prince George’s County Council and has served as the chairperson for the committee since the committee’s inception.

Franklin admitted to stealing $124,450.10 from the Friends of Mel Franklin campaign from 2020 through October 2023, and using that money to pay for personal loans and credit card debt, his personal rent, and personal subscriptions, among other items. He also admitted to using campaign funds for international trips and spending $11,500 on cosmetic procedures, prosecutors said.

From 2021 through December 2023, Franklin used $8,718.57 from the campaign account to pay third parties directly for his personal expenses such as hotel-stays, cosmetic procedures and a deposit for an international trip in 2024. He also admitted to using the money to pay off his personal credit card and for the upkeep of his personal vehicle.

In addition, Franklin admitted to concealing his use of campaign funds and falsifying information on campaign reports that he signed under the penalties of law and submitted to the State Board of Elections.

As part of the plea agreement, Franklin must pay restitution of $133,168.67 to his campaign committee, which will be given to a charity of his choice, The Washington Post reported.

Franklin faced 20 counts as he entere the plea deal: two felony theft scheme charges and misdemeanor charges of embezzlement and perjury, the Post said.

“Elected officials should be held accountable if they violate the public trust and exploit the Maryland electoral process for personal financial gain,” said State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III in a statement. “I’m proud of our office’s hard work in uncovering this extensive fraud.”

Among the specific purchases were two personal stays at National Harbor hotels, according to charging documents. On July 10, 2022, Franklin used $305 from his campaign committee account to stay in a hotel at the Harbor’s Westin Hotel. Franklin checked in at 2:01 a.m. and checked out at 6:21 a.m., WTOP reported.

On March 26, 2023, court documents say Franklin used campaign account funds to purchase a one-night stay in an executive suite at the Gaylord National hotel at a cost of more than $800.