March 25, 2025: Former Legislative Aide Pleads Guilty to Felony Theft for Stealing Legislative Scholarship Funds

Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced today that Esther Dikongue, a former legislative aide in the Maryland State Senate, has pleaded guilty to felony theft scheme, for stealing funds allocated for legislative scholarships.  

According to a Statement of Facts read into the record, Dikongue worked for a Maryland State Senator when she allocated scholarship funds to herself without that Senator’s authorization. Members of the Maryland Legislature are allocated funds to award legislative scholarships to students attending Maryland colleges or for Maryland students attending colleges outside of Maryland that offer programs unavailable at any Maryland institution. Dikongue continued to access the Senator’s email address, “secretly and without permission” after she no longer worked in the Senator’s Office to ensure she continued to receive the scholarship funds.

The Honorable Stacy W. McCormack accepted the guilty plea today and sentencing has been scheduled for July 16, 2025.

“It is unacceptable to misappropriate funds that are reserved to help Maryland students attend universities,” said Howard. “our Office will continue to work to ensure Maryland tax-payer dollars are being used as intended.”

Mr. Howard thanked and commended Deputy State Prosecutor Sarah R. David, Assistant State Prosecutor Stephanie Haddad, and Special Agent Michael Berg for their work on this case.

A copy of the Statement of Facts can be found HERE.

Contact: media.osp@maryland.gov