November 2nd, 1999: Dixon becomes City Council president. October 14th, 2003: Dixon violates City Board of Ethics rules by hiring her sister Janice. April 2004: Federal Prosecutors issue grand-jury subpoenas to City Council members for records relating to questionable behavior including the acceptance of gifts and hiring practices.
November 2nd, 2004: Dixon is re-elected city council president.
March 18th, 2005: Federal prosecutors close their 18-month investigation into the City Council without filing any charges.
February 2006: The city Board of Ethics begins to examine whether Dixon acted ethically during a Council Committee hearing, and Board of Estimates meeting. The meetings addressed matters involving Utech, a city contractor which had employed Dixon’s sister.
March 2006: State prosecutors issue subpoenas in the search for government documents and Comcast Cable officials related to Utech.
January 17th 2007: As Martin O’Malley is sworn in as governor, Dixon becomes Baltimore’s first female mayor. September 11th, 2007: Dixon wins Democratic primary for mayor.
September 24, 2007: Dixon’s former campaign chairman, Dale G. Clark pleads guilty to the charges of failing to file tax returns related to his work as a computer consultant for the City Council. Over a five year period, Clark was given a total of $500,000 without a mandated contract. One of Dixon’s aides structured the payments to work around the Board of Estimates rule that requires approval for contracts for over $5,000. December 4, 2007: Dixon is sworn in as mayor of Baltimore.
January 2008: State prosecutors issue subpoenas for documents held by the city’s Finance Department and Board of Estimates. Howard Dixon, an aide to the mayor, is also issued a subpoena. March 10th, 2008: President of Utech, Mildred E. Boyer, responsible for employing Dixon’s sister, pleads guilty of falsifying tax returns. June 17th, 2008: State prosecutors arrive at 6:30 am with a warrant to search Dixons home. State prosecutors also issue subpoenas to five city employees to testify before a grand jury.