ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - State Sen. Ulysses Currie, chairman of a legislative committee that steers $32 billion in state spending, is accused of illegally using his influence to benefit a grocery store chain, the U.S. attorney's office announced Wednesday.
Currie, a 73-year-old Prince George's County Democrat was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and extortion.
The U.S. attorney's office also said former Shoppers Food Warehouse executives _ including former President William J. White and former vice president for real estate development R. Kevin Small _ have been indicted in connection with a scheme from 2002 to 2008 to pay Currie.
"Government officials cross a bright line when they accept payments in return for using the authority of their office, whether they take cash in envelopes or checks labeled as consulting payments," Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said.
A separate criminal information was filed against Shoppers Food Warehouse Corp., which has agreed to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement to pay a $2.5 million penalty.
Currie had been under federal investigation for more than two years for working as a consultant for Shoppers Food Warehouse without disclosing the work in financial disclosure forms. Federal prosecutors allege the payments grew from $3,000 a month in 2003 to $7,600 a month in 2007. The payments were never reported on five annual ethics forms.
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4 comments:
Democrats have controlled MD to long and this is their arrogance that makes them think they are above the law. Just like Congress is now. Get rid of all incumbants and start fresh or impose term limits with a quarter of the benefits and pension retro back 10 years. Then we will see who serves the people or serves themselves. Who is the first Politian to sign on to this proposal or introduce the Bill on the floor. Lets see who would do this and then we will see by the votes who serves the People or themselves also.
"Currie worked for 25 years as an educator in the Prince George's County Public Schools."
Isn't Jim Ireton also a member of the Party of Obama?
Enough said!!
Currie:
Resign without benefits.
Just another crooked Democrat!
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