Annapolis —
ANNAPOLIS — 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.
His lawyer, Dale P. Kelberman, said in an e-mailed statement Wednesday that the charges are unfounded and Currie will plead not guilty.
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