Feds launch manhunt for former Maryland Gov. Hogan’s ex-chief of staff

Federal authorities initiated a manhunt Tuesday for former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s onetime chief of workers after he failed to seem in court docket in reference to a collection of fraud and different fees.

The U.S. Marshals Service tweeted that it had launched an interstate fugitive investigation into Roy McGrath, and its Baltimore workplace “is now searching for to apprehend the previous Maryland governor’s prime aide” after he was not in Maryland federal court docket on Monday.

An arrest warrant was additionally issued, the Marshals added.

NBC Information has reached out to the company for touch upon the manhunt.

In line with court docket paperwork, McGrath is going through fees of wire fraud, theft in applications receiving federal funds and falsification of data in federal investigations, in reference to an indictment that claims he defrauded the state-owned Maryland Environmental Service.

An legal professional for McGrath, Joseph Murtha informed NBC Information in an e mail that he was uncertain of his shopper’s whereabouts after he did not present up at 9 a.m. on Monday for an arraignment and jury choice for the trial earlier than Decide Deborah L. Boardman.

“Sadly, at the moment I’ve no additional details about Mr. McGrath,” Murtha wrote. “It’s my hope that he’s secure and that we’ll have a chance to talk to at least one one other within the close to future.”

McGrath, who lives in Florida and has pleaded not responsible to all fees towards him, has been free on private recognizance on situations that he promised to seem in court docket as required and serve any sentence imposed following a court docket look in October 2021.

In line with the indictment, from March 2019 by means of December 2020, McGrath used his place on the Maryland Environmental Service to complement himself by fraudulently issuing himself funds. The company capabilities as an impartial state entity that gives waste administration and different providers to native authorities companies, federal authorities entities and the personal sector.

Prosecutors additionally accused McGrath, 53, of illegally recording personal conversations with senior state officers and falsifying his time sheets, claiming that he was at work whereas vacationing on two events in 2019.

McGrath first joined Hogan’s workplace as deputy chief of workers in 2015. Hogan then appointed him to steer the Maryland Environmental Service, in December 2016.

McGrath later briefly returned to the GOP governor’s workplace, to function Hogan’s chief of workers in June 2020. He resigned months later after going through backlash over receiving a “severance cost” in extra of $230,000 for the Maryland Environmental Service job earlier than taking up his function as Hogan’s prime aide.