BALTIMORE (AP) — Two days after former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s ex-chief of workers failed to seem in court docket to face trial on federal corruption costs, FBI brokers raided his Florida residence because the search continues for Roy McGrath.
McGrath, 53, was declared a needed fugitive after he disappeared Monday, leaving his legal professional, Joseph Murtha, standing alone on the steps of Baltimore’s federal courthouse.
Murtha mentioned he believed McGrath was planning to fly from Florida to Maryland on Sunday night time to seem in court docket Monday morning, however that didn’t occur. As a substitute of starting jury choice in accordance with the trial schedule, a choose issued an arrest warrant for McGrath and dismissed potential jurors.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Service introduced they had been launching an interstate manhunt for McGrath, who was indicted in 2021 on federal fraud costs.
He stole a whole bunch of 1000’s of {dollars} from the state, together with a fraudulent $233,647 severance cost he obtained after leaving his place as government director of the Maryland Environmental Service to grow to be Hogan’s chief of workers in June 2020, in response to a grand jury indictment. He additionally lied about working whereas he took a number of holidays and used state funds for private bills, the indictment says.
McGrath resigned from Hogan’s administration in August 2020 after information of his uncommon severance cost grew to become public. Following his arrest, McGrath was launched on bond. He was required to show in his passport as a situation of launch, his legal professional mentioned.
McGrath later moved to Naples, Florida, the place his spouse, Laura Bruner, watched their residence get raided by FBI brokers Wednesday morning.
Murtha, McGrath’s legal professional, confirmed the search in a cellphone interview Wednesday afternoon, saying brokers had been doubtless searching for something to point McGrath’s present whereabouts. An FBI spokesperson mentioned brokers “performed court docket licensed exercise at that residence” however declined to elaborate.
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A spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service didn’t reply to requests for remark. They issued a needed poster for McGrath on Tuesday.
Murtha, who was lately involved with McGrath’s spouse, mentioned she has been cooperating with authorities since his disappearance. She was current at their home Wednesday when brokers performed the search.
“She appeared upset and bewildered,” Murtha mentioned.
Murtha mentioned he had no purpose to imagine his shopper would skip out on court docket. He mentioned they’d a substantive dialog concerning the case Sunday night. McGrath was speculated to board a airplane later that night time, his legal professional mentioned.
“I haven’t a clue. I didn’t see this coming,” he mentioned. “This conduct is so out of the bizarre for him. Clearly his private security is a priority.”
McGrath was appointed by Hogan to function government director of the Maryland Environmental Service in December 2016. The state-owned company supplies environmental providers comparable to water and wastewater administration to authorities entities and personal purchasers. In line with federal and state prosecutors, McGrath personally enriched himself by making the most of his positions of belief because the environmental company’s director and Hogan’s prime aide.
He bought the company’s board to approve paying him a $233,647 severance cost — equal to at least one 12 months’s wage — upon his departure as government director by falsely telling them the governor had already accredited the cost, in response to prosecutors.