Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh has been indicted on federal charges of wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to defraud the US, reported Fox 45 News Baltimore.

FORMER BALTIMORE MAYOR PUGH INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES OVER BOOK SCANDAL -WASHINGTON POST

Pugh has been in hiding for 7 to 8 months, is expected to surrender to US Marshals Service in the next 24 hours before her hearing in US District Court in Baltimore on Nov. 21 at 1 pm. est.

Pugh went missing in Apr. after the FBI and IRS raided her home amid speculation, she was involved in a brazen kickback scheme involving sales of her "Healthy Holly" book series.

The former mayor of Baltimore was accused of using her position to secure agreements worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from the University of Maryland Medical System and managed-care consortium KaiserPermanente. The contracts were arrangements to purchase thousands of copies of Pugh's "Healthy Holly" books, a series written by Pugh.

Pugh was sitting on the organization's board when she received the book deal from the University of Maryland system. And shortly after she received a payment from KaiserPermanente, the company received a $48 million contract from the city. Though we're sure, that's just a coincidence. Furthermore, some of the "Healthy Holly" copies that Pugh sold to the University of Maryland Medical System remain unaccounted for, and some suspect they may never have been printed.

"Our elected officials must place the interests of the citizens above their own," said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur. "Corrupt public employees rip off the taxpayers and undermine everyone's faith in government. The US Attorney's Office and our law enforcement partners will zealously pursue those who abuse the taxpayers' trust and bring them to justice."

"The people of Maryland expect elected officials to make decisions based on the public's best interests, not to abuse their office for personal gain," said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Boone of the FBI's Baltimore Division. "Catherine Pugh betrayed the public's trust. The FBI will continue to diligently work to detect fraud and corruption and hold those who violate this trust accountable."

The next significant development will be Pugh surrendering herself to US Marshals within the next 24 hours, but then again, there's always a chance that a corrupt politician may flee.