Baltimore city's first woman Mayor, Sheila Dixon, was indicted by a grand jury on Friday on 12 counts of theft, fraud and perjury. The indictment - coming after almost three years of investigation by state - says that 2003 onwards Dixon is guilty of committing perjury and theft, along with devious embezzlement and misdemeanors in office.

Dixon is accused of receiving gifts - which also include traveling and lodging - and using gift cards, donated to for needy families, for purchasing luxuries and fur coats for her own self.

According to the indictment, Dixon, 55, received gift cards to the Best Buy and Target stores from two real estate developers - one of whom supposedly was her ex-boyfriend, Ronald Lipscomb, who was indicted Wednesday on charges of bribery.

It is alleged that Dixon used at least $2,000 in donated gift cards to buy a digital camcorder, an Xbox 360, a PlayStation 2, and other electronic devices "for her personal benefit."

In addition, Dixon also did not disclose her trips with Lipscomb to Chicago, New York, and other places, where Lipscomb may have spent nearly $13,000; along with a gift certificate he paid for, which Dixon used to buy a burnt umber mink coat and a Persian lamb coat.

Though Dixon says that she has been "unfairly accused", Maryland State Prosecutor Robert Rohrbaugh, who headed the investigation against Dixon, said: "The citizens of Baltimore have every right to expect their public officials will be open and honest and will not use the office for personal motives, gain or greed."