Catonsville resident who orchestrated ‘Dinner with Donald Trump’ scheme failed to file tax return, feds say

A Catonsville resident was recently charged with failing to file a tax return by the federal government. But that’s not why she caught our attention. Previously, this woman had orchestrated a dinner with Donald Trump, where attendees paid tens of thousands of dollars to have the opportunity to dine with the former president. She even went so far as to create fake donors to make it seem like the dinner was more popular than it actually was.

The woman, identified as 43-year-old Baoqian Li, has been charged with one count of willful failure to file an individual income tax return, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Li allegedly failed to file a tax return in 2018, despite making more than $400,000 that year.

While the tax evasion charge is serious, it’s the dinner scheme that has piqued public interest. Li organized a $10,000-a-plate gala at Trump’s Washington, D.C. hotel in 2017, which was attended by a small number of people. However, Li invented fake donors in order to make it seem like the dinner was more popular than it actually was. A federal investigation into the dinner concluded that it was part of an effort to curry favor with the Trump administration.

Li has pleaded not guilty to the tax evasion charge. However, if convicted, she could face up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Fraud and tax evasion are serious crimes that can bring significant penalties. Americans are expected to pay their fair share of taxes, and when they evade that responsibility, it can have detrimental effects on the economy and society at large. This case is a reminder that no one is above the law - even if they have connections to people in power.