BALTIMORE, MD—A former Baltimore City employee has admitted to taking bribes and defrauding the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Joseph Gillespie, 35, of Baltimore, was found to have stolen more than $250,000 in bribes and received more than $138,000 in fraudulent PPP loans.

Gillespie pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery. He worked for the Baltimore City Department of Finance in the Revenue Collections Department. He admitted to taking bribes from property owners whose properties were subject to financial obligations. He would use his position to help remove or extinguish these financial obligations, including water bills and property taxes. This would result in losses to the City.

Gillespie was also found to have engaged in a bribery scheme for more than eight years. He admitted to taking bribes from multiple property owners and received more than $250,000 in total bribes. He was found to have recorded himself discussing the bribes and the money he would receive. In one recording, he said, “Going forward, I’m just your inside man … That’s what I do for a lot of different people around the City.” He also stated that he had the ability to “wipe a bill off” the City’s record of outstanding obligations and “put paid next to ‘em,” even though the financial obligation had not in fact been paid.

Gillespie and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Gillespie will be sentenced to between two years’ and five years’ imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for December 9, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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