Former Maryland legislative aide pleads guilty to scholarship fund theft

BALTIMORE, MD—A former legislative aide in the Maryland State Senate pleaded guilty to felony theft scheme on Wednesday for stealing legislative scholarship funds, according to Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III. Esther Dikongue used her position to allocate scholarship funds to herself without authorization from the Senator she worked for. The funds are intended to support Maryland students attending […]

Former Maryland State Trooper pleads guilty to drug, bribery charges

BALTIMORE, MD—A former Maryland State Trooper pleaded guilty to federal drug and bribery charges after trying to sell information to a drug trafficking organization, federal authorities announced. Justin Riggs, 35, of Smithsburg, conspired to sell information to a drug trafficking organization, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland reports. Riggs pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to […]

Former Baltimore Department Of Finance employee sentenced To 4 years in connection with bribery, COVID-19 CARES Act scheme

BALTIMORE, MD—A former Baltimore City employee has been sentenced to prison after being sentenced for a bribery and wire fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Joseph Gillespie, 35, of Baltimore City, to four years in federal prison and three years of supervised release in connection with a bribery scheme and conspiracy to commit wire fraud scheme involving […]

Maryland aide charged in $20K theft of legislative scholarship funds

BALTIMORE, MD—A former Maryland State Senate legislative aide has been charged with felony theft and unauthorized access to a computer system for stealing legislative scholarship funds, according to Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III. Esther Dikongue is accused of using her position to allocate $20,000 in scholarship funds from a state senator’s office to her own educational institution. The […]

U.S. Army research biologist from Maryland sentenced To 51 months in prison for engaging in APG bribery scheme

BALTIMORE, MD—A U.S. Army biologist from Maryland will be spending time behind bars for participating in a bribery scheme. Jason Edmonds, 45 of North East, was sentenced this week to 51 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to commit bribery at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. In addition, the Court ordered Edmonds to forfeit $111,794.83, […]

Former state employee from Essex pleads guilty to insurance fraud, felony theft

BALTIMORE, MD—A former state employee from Essex has pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and theft charges. Attorney General Anthony G. Brown on Thursday announced that Shanell Angelia West, 46, has pleaded guilty in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County in separate cases involving insurance fraud and felony theft. The charges stemmed from her actions during and after her employment with […]

Baltimore City employee admits to bribery, PPP fraud

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 […]

County Executive Olszewksi faces mounting pressure to resign, drop out of Congressional race

TOWSON, MD—The Maryland Republican Party this week urged Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski (D) to resign from office and drop out of the race for Congressional District 2. Since the existence of a confidential cash settlement first surfaced – hidden from public view through a false name – County Executive Olszewski has sought to distance himself from its recipient, a […]