The Wicomico County Grand Jury has handed down indictments on five individuals who were allegedly involved in the theft of about $450,000 worth of diesel fuel, tires and other supplies over a more-than-two-year period beginning in 2005.
All five individuals are charged with 1 count of theft scheme over $500 and 4 counts of conspiracy to commit theft scheme over $500. Those charged are: Kenneth L. Townsend, Ray Allen Lewis, Paul E. Tomaszewski, George Randall Ennis and Benjamin Franklin Merritt III. Bail is set at $250,000 for Townsend, Lewis and Tomaszewski. Bail is set at $50,000 for Ennis and Merritt. Townsend and Tomaszewski are former Wicomico County employees. Both were fired from their positions at the landfill in February. Ennis remains as an employee though he has been suspended without pay since February.
According to the Wicomico County State’s Attorney, the Grand Jury is interested in other individuals allegedly involved in the thefts and there may be more indictments.
Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., said that his initial position on any county employee found guilty of theft has not changed saying that “They will be fired and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Mr. Pollitt added that the Certified Fraud Examiner hired in March will soon be giving him a complete report on his findings about the thefts at the landfill.
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Good that they got five of the culprits at least, but I think there had to be others, including some in managerial positions with the county. An awful lot of employees had to have known about this and/or at least saw some things and wondered what was going on. And yet no one reported what they suspected was going on?
ReplyDeleteA. Goetz