Former Md. chief of staff McGrath faces federal fraud, embezzlement trial Monday – WTOP News

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A former chief of employees to former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) heads to federal court docket in Baltimore on Monday to face fraud and embezzlement fees.

Roy McGrath joined Hogan’s workforce initially as deputy chief of employees. He additionally served because the liaison to the Board of Public works.

By December 2016, McGrath left the governor’s workplace to turn out to be the CEO and chair of the quasi-public Maryland Environmental Service.

4 years later McGrath returned to the State Home, tapped by Hogan in Might 2020 as his chief of employees.

A couple of months later, studies surfaced concerning the phrases of his departure from the Maryland Environmental Service, together with a payout equal to 12 months wage.

McGrath resigned from the publish on Aug. 17, 2020 — a couple of week after information of his severance bundle grew to become public.

The departure triggered a sequence of legislative hearings in addition to a slew of federal and state prison fees.

Federal fraud and embezzlement fees

McGrath was charged in an preliminary eight-count federal indictment with wire fraud and improperly securing a $233,648 severance cost from the Maryland Environmental Service simply as he was becoming a member of Hogan’s employees. The cost is the same as his annual wage as head of the company.

Different fees embrace fraud and embezzlement associated to tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in bills in addition to a failure to say trip time whereas in Florida and a Mediterranean cruise to Spain, France and Italy. These journeys concerned his spouse, Laura Bruner, who on the time was his girlfriend.

Whereas prosecutors sought to introduce as proof images and textual content messages between McGrath’s spouse and her father, that request was denied by U.S. District Courtroom Decide Deborah L. Boardman throughout pre-trial hearings.

After the preliminary federal indictment, prosecutors later added a cost alleging McGrath falsified data. The doc in query allegedly confirmed Hogan was knowledgeable and accepted of the payout to McGrath.

Hogan has vigorously and repeatedly denied he accepted of the cost.

McGrath faces as much as 20 years in jail for every of the wire fraud fees. He may additionally face an extra sentence of as much as 10 years for every of two embezzlement counts.

A possible star witness for the prosecution

Hogan, the previous governor, may very well be known as as a witness for the prosecution. The previous governor’s look was hinted at in an preliminary draft of jury questions.

Hogan’s testimony could also be key in rebutting each McGrath’s claims that the governor knew of and accepted of his severance bundle from the Maryland Environmental Service in addition to the memo prosecutors allege McGrath fabricated.

Ought to Hogan be known as to testify, it will mark a uncommon if not distinctive event wherein a former or present governor was known as as a witness for the prosecution in a federal trial.

One other trial to return

The federal trial is the primary of two involving McGrath.

The Workplace of the Maryland State Prosecutor, working in tandem with federal prosecutors, filed 27 fees towards McGrath in Anne Arundel County Circuit Courtroom in October 2021.

Included in these fees are 9 counts of illegal recording of cellphone calls. The recordings embrace conversations with Hogan and different members of the governor’s employees between March 11 and Aug. 17, 2020, in line with prosecutors. There are additionally 9 counts of misconduct in workplace associated to the calls.

McGrath and his legal professional have sought to make use of the recordings in federal court docket, the place the legislation permits for one-party consent.

McGrath faces as much as 5 years in state jail and $10,000 for every of the wiretap fees. The misconduct fees carry a penalty of something that’s not thought-about merciless and weird.

Moreover, he faces fees associated to falsifying timesheets for the Florida and Mediterranean journeys in addition to for funds made on his behalf to the Harvard College Kennedy College and a $15,000 cost to a charity on his behalf. These fees additionally embrace associated misconduct in workplace fees.

That case is scheduled to go to trial in July.