On March 11th, Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., announced that a Certified Fraud Examiner, Robert A. Garvey, Jr., of the accounting firm of McLean, Koehler, Sparks & Hammond of Hunt Valley, MD, had been hired to perform a forensic audit on the County’s landfill operation. This followed as a result of arrests alleging theft and a conspiracy to commit theft at the landfill by county employees and outside individuals.
“So far, the investigation into the landfill operation covers the period 2005-2007,” said Executive Pollitt. “Using accepted forensic accounting practices, our examiner has determined that the dollar theft amount of off-road diesel fuel from the landfill is approximately $400,000. He estimates that 75 tires valued at about $45,000 were stolen. Mr. Garvey continues to audit the value of other alleged stolen goods such as anti-freeze and gasoline.
“I have instructed Mr. Garvey to vigorously continue his investigation in conjunction with the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation,” continued Pollitt. “My position on this exercise is that we shall ‘Leave no stone unturned.’ I have asked him to look at all phases of the landfill operation including activities of and relationships with outside vendors. I have also told him not to hesitate in taking the investigation beyond the confines of the landfill if indicated.
“I can offer a small consolation to our citizens in this matter in that the county’s insurance carrier will most likely reimburse us in the amount of $250,000 for our loss. Needless to say, I shall pursue civil litigation where appropriate to recover the value of what has been stolen from our citizens.” Mr. Pollitt added that, “The only deadline for the completion of this investigation is when I am satisfied that there is no place else to look.”
19 comments:
Its a wonderful thing that the county executive is taking this situation so seriously, but is he also looking under other rocks in other departments for similar activities? This particular issue came to the surface only accidentally...if this dept. could be, conservatively speaking, out at least $440k without anyone noticing, what else is going on?
Mr. Pollitt needs to send this investigator to check other departments while he's here. As a taxpayer I want assurance that this isn't just the tip of an ugly iceberg.
DG52
Why should insurance have to pay for any of this.If the insurance company pays the city, it will eventually come out of our pockets again when the insurance company raises our premiums. Ray lewis and his companions should be held liable for the entire amount. Make him sell his business and reimburse the city. He can start from scratch after his debt to the city is paid in full.
Don't forget that this is April 2008. This update from Mr. Pollitt says their investigator has covered a period from 2005-2007.
Was Ray Lewis not "doing business" with the landfill prior to 2005? Did he stop at the end of 2007?
Was he not ultimately caught when a truck of his was stopped just last month? Is there more report to come, with an updatd figure?
Why should our insurance carrier have to pay for this? THEY didn't steal anything. And, if they do have to pay this as a claim, won't our rates go up accordingly? Why shouldn't this guy be ordered to pay restitution, as well as the expenses involved in finding out how much he stole and the court costs to MAKE him repay? He can certainly afford it.
DG52
From Rick's Statement:
"I have also told him not to hesitate in taking the investigation beyond the confines of the landfill if indicated."
I smell a RAT !!
12:08 You have a good nose.
Instead of the insurance company picking up the tab for 250k why not seize A.S.A.P. and Lewis Construction as well as Ray Lewis' personal assets and sell all of it off . After all is sold and restitution made then file for insurance . It is very doubtful there would even be an insurance claim . Thing is if the case was handled right he wouldn't need his things while at the states free hotel in Princess Anne or Jessup anyway . But don't stop there He was not the only one involved in all of this go after the rest of the scum bags and do the same with them as well .
I see that the District Court Record shows that all the charges against Kenny Townsend have been Nolle Prossed. What is up with that?
whats up with that? There is no evidence against them. Even Ray Lewis had been accused however they can't prove that any of the items that alledgely came from the dump actually came from the dump. There were no real records kept. so again how can they prove that any of it came from down there? As i've said before there are much bigger fish to fry here and unfortunately we the tax payers have footed the bill. The only thing that will come from this is better keeping of the books to assure that it doesn't happen again. Ricky needs to go come November. How did all of this happen on his watch without him and his accounting people not know it? He was in office long enough to know exactly what was going on. He didnt just start the day before, so that isnt even an excuse. It goes further up then Rai. They were all in on it and did in fact know about it and took their cuts. Rick Pilot needs to go! I am a registered voter and of course this is just my opinion. bye bye Rick.
How much in material and labor did Rai Sharma spend on improvements to his Temple and his home which were paid for with taxpayers dollars? How much money did those public works employees double dip by being on the payroll AND being paid cash under the table by Rai? Will we go after him for restitution as well?
He must be the rat you smell, squeeled like a pig from Deliverence I bet. They should turn the tables on him now, and charge him with something else and throw his ass in jail too!
Anonymous said...
Its a wonderful thing that the county executive is taking this situation so seriously, but is he also looking under other rocks in other departments for similar activities? This particular issue came to the surface only accidentally...if this dept. could be, conservatively speaking, out at least $440k without anyone noticing, what else is going on?
Mr. Pollitt needs to send this investigator to check other departments while he's here. As a taxpayer I want assurance that this isn't just the tip of an ugly iceberg.
DG52
9:21 AM
Anonymous DG52,
How naive are you. Rick Pollitt has proven that he is a worthless POS. Only a liberal democrat would make the people pay for someone elses crime. The county should be going after every nickel that Ray Lewis has instead of raping the tax payers by forcing insurance to pay for it. Anyone with an intelligence would never have even considered contacting an insurance company. What an @sshole. Louise Smith, I mean Rick Pollitt I want my Vote Back!!
I looked up the meaning of Noelle Prosqui and it defines it as basically "charges dismissed". If that is the case regarding one of the guys involved in the County mess, this is just too unbelievable! I guess that means I can go out and Rob a Bank and be allowed to walk away a Free man.
The good ole boy system rules!
Taxes collected here in Wicomico county and the individual municipalities in the county go well over $250,000,000. Does it look like we are actually getting our money's worth? That figure doesn't include state and federal aid, just collected local taxes.
The least they should do would be charge him with felony theft and have given him a suspended sentence for cooperating.
He should and does deserve a criminal record even if he did aid in the source of other thefts. I even think that's not enough.
where was it said that the charges against Kenny Townsend were dropped?
10:56
The District court record states that all of the charges against Townsend were dismissed. The States Attorney for some reason decided to drop the charges and declined to prosecute him on those charges. It would not surprise me if the same thing to happen with Lewis when he goes to court.
If they both get the charges dismissed, that would cause me to think they are afraid that bigger fish might be exposed.
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