Maryland governor’s former chief of staff indicted for fraud

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) former chief of staff was indicted on Tuesday on charges he defrauded the state agency he previously led into giving him a severance package of more than $233,000, among other allegations.

In addition to the severance pay that was equal to a year’s salary, prosecutors allege Roy McGrath also used money from the Maryland Environmental Service (MES) to make a personal pledge to a museum and to finance tuition expenses for a course he took after leaving the agency, according to a press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

The indictment accuses McGrath of telling the MES board of directors that the governor was aware of and agreed to the package. When Hogan found out about the package and asked McGrath about it, the former chief of staff said the package was in keeping with the board’s typical practice, according to the DOJ. 

McGrath also attempted to delete any record of discussions about his severance pay from the MES board meeting’s public minutes, the DOJ said.

Apart from the allegations of financial fraud, McGrath also faces charges related to recording his conversations with senior state officials without their permission at the MES and in the governor’s office. 

“Our federal and state law enforcement team in Maryland will always hold accountable public officials who betray the public trust for their personal gain,” acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner said in a statement. “Maryland residents should always demand honesty and integrity from those in government, and hopefully this indictment offers the public some level of confidence that we are committed to prosecuting those who violate that trust.”

In an email to The Hill later on Tuesday, McGrath’s attorney, Bruce Marcus, said his client denied the allegations of fraud.

“We have been made aware that early today federal authorities instituted criminal charges against our client, Roy McGrath,” the statement said of the federal charges. “Mr. McGrath vigorously and categorically denies the allegations. He looks forward to clearing his good name and reputation at a trial on the merits.”

Regarding the state charges against him, Marcus said he was “made aware that the Maryland State Prosecutor has instituted criminal charges” adding that McGrath had not seen those allegations but “denies any criminal conduct.”

McGrath left the MES in May 2020 after serving as its executive director for nearly four years. He then began working in the governor’s office. After just a few months as chief of staff, McGrath resigned after his alleged misuse of MES funds was made public, The Associated Press reported. 

If convicted, McGrath could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the four counts of wire fraud that he faces. He could also get up to 10 years for each of his two counts of embezzling money.

Updated on Wednesday at 1:13 p.m.