Probe widens into alleged cheating by Pr. George's officers-in-training; more than 30 officers involved

Post, Zapotosky, 6 Oct 2010

Md. probes extortion claims

Post, Wiggins, 24 Jun 2010

• Ahmed, Parvez, Emplyee of Arun Luthra
• Anderson, Stephanie, Attorney for PG County
• Arrington, Michael, Defendant
• Bland, Marilynn, Defendant
• Boswell, Iris, Defendant
• Dukes, Charles, Defendant
• Exum, Camille, Defendant
• Johnson, Jack B.m Defendant
• Knotts, Tony, Defendant
• Luthra, Arun, Developer, plaintiff
• McDonough, Thomas M., Deputy state prosecutor
• Piper, Pamela H., Former director of central services
• Shurberg, Jonathan S., Attorney for Aurn Luthra
• Turner, Ingrid, Defendant

State looking into Prince George's County bribery complaints, source says

American Hospitality owner, staff member to testify before grand jury on lawmakers' alleged dealingsGazette, Valentine, 21 Jun 2010

Pay to play in Prince George's

Post, Editorial, 4 May 2010

• Arrington, Michael 
• Bland, Marilynn
• Dukes, Charles
• Exum, Camille
• Knotts, Tony
• Luthra, Arun, Developer

Lawyer in Md. suit says political favors 'not unlawful'

Post, Wiggins, 1 May 2010

• Ahmed, Parvez
• American Hospitality Management 
• Anderson, Stephanie PG County attorney
• Bland, Marilynn 
• Exum, Camille 
• Johnson, Jack B.
• Karp, Daniel
• Karpinski Colaresi & Karp 
• Knotts, Tony
• Luthra, Arun, Developer 
• Shurberg, Jonathan S. (Attorney for Arun Luthra)
• Turner, Ingrid

Effort to replace Prince George's Planning Board chairman faces resistance

Post, Mummolo & Wiggins, 26 Feb 2010

• Byrd, David 
• Johnson, Jack B.

American Hospitality vs Prince Georges County

Maryland Judiciary Case Search (requires agreement to terms before loading specific pages)
Circuit Court for Prince George's County - Civil System, filed 19 Jan 2010

• American Hospitality Management, Plaintiff
• Arrington, Michael, Defendant
• Bland, Marilynn, Defendant
• Boswell, Iris, Defendant
• Capital Legislative Solutions LLC, Defendant
• Serve Michael Arrington
• Dukes, Charles, Defendant
• Exum, Camille, Defendant
• Johnson, Jack B.m Defendant
• Knotts, Tony, Defendant
• Scheer Partners, Inc., Defendant
• Serve Robert I. Scheer
• Turner, Ingrid, Defendant

HUD wants $2 million back from Pr. George's

Post, Mummolo, 17 Jan 2010

Suburb Braces for An End to Tranquility

Pr. George's Backs Major Development Of Westphalia Area
Post, Wiggins, 28 Sep 2009

• Camp, Marva Jo, Spokeswoman for Westphalia developers
• Colton, Daniel I., Developer
• Dean, Samuel 
• Greenbelt Station
• Ricker, Patrick 
• Westphalia

D.C. Area Officers Subject of FBI Probe

Did Police Take Money to Protect Gambling Ring?
Post, Davis, 19 Jul 2009

• Smith, Eddie (CPL, bank robber)
• Unnamed officers may be connected to murder of Dewayne Dunmore, 37, by repeat murderer Benjamin Perry Jr.,
• Unnamed other officers

Three Friends in Glare of Pr. George's Probe

Post, Helderman, Wiggins, & Cauvin. 3 Oct 2008

• Colton, Daniel I., Developer
• Day Homes
• Day, Thomas
• Gainey, Jerome (father-in-law of Patrick Ricker)
• Granzow, Karl L., Jr. 
• Greenbelt Station
• Hendershot, Florence
• Hendershot, Thomas R.
• Ricker, Patrick
• Shapiro, Peter

Suburb Braces for An End to Tranquility

Post, Wiggins, 28 Sep 2008

Offices of 2 Senior Aides Searched By FBI in Probe, Executive Says

Post, Wiggins & Helderman, 16 Sep 2008

• Brennan, William C., Attorney for Patrick Ricker
• Byrd, David   
• Colton, Daniel I., Developer
• Dougherty, J. Michael PG County director of finance
• Granzow, Karl L., Jr.
• Greenbelt Station
• Hendershot, Thomas R.
• Johnson, Jack B.
• Ricker, Patrick, Developer

FBI Raid Included Officials' Houses; Greenbelt Station Appears to Be Area of Interest

Post, Helderman & Hernandez, 15 Sep 2008

• Colton, Daniel I., Developer
• Dernoga, Thomas Outgoing council member (D-1)
• Dougherty, J. Michael PG County director of finance
• Gaines, Tawanna P., Delegate (D-22)
• Granzow, Karl L., Jr. 
• Greenbelt Station
• Hendershot, Thomas R.
• Jacobs, David  
• Maloney, Timothy , Attorney for Karl Granzow
• Ricker, Patrick  
• Trend, Inc.
• Wilson, Wilbert R.

Sweetheart Deals

Post, Thompson & Flaherty

Accused of theft: Aide to council chair Exum

Warrant rescinded for County Council aide; State’s attorney still considering whether to prosecute employee.
Gazette, 1 Nov 2007 (Valentine).

Council Aide on Leave Amid Theft Allegations.
Post, 23 Oct 2007 (Helderman & Rondeaux).

Exum Aide Put on Leave Amid Check Fraud Allegations.
wtopnews.com, 23 Oct 2007 (AP).
wjla.com, 23 Oct 2007 (AP).
wjz, 23 Oct 2007 (AP).

Exum Aide Put on Leave Amid Check Fraud Allegations.

Post, Helderman & Rondeau, 23 Oct 2007

State prosecutor subpoenas members of National Harbor grant committee

Gazette, Mustikhan & Berger, 17 Aug 2007

Credit Card Use Probed By U.S., Sources Say

Post, Rich & Helderman, 19 May 2007

Post, Castaneda, 12 May 2007

• Thomas, Robert L.

Johnson's Wife Is Part Of New Grants Board

Pr. George's Official Was Silent on Issue
Post, Flaherty & Thompson, 6 May 2007

Grants Go to Allies Of Grantors, Johnson

Some Pr. George's Groups Didn't Seek Funds
Post, Thompson, Flaherty, & Helderman, 16 Apr 2007

New PG Council Rewards Corruption; Picks Credit Card Abusers as Leaders

Exum, Harrington take top Prince George’s Council postsTuesday, Dec. 5, 2006
by Judson Berger
Gazette Staff Writer

Four under investigation for alleged unauthorized use of county credit cards
Gazette, 30 Nov 2006 (Berger).

Credit card déja vu
Gazette, 24 Nov 2006 (Editorial). 

Pr. George's Calls On Md. Prosecutor; Officials' Visa Bills Will Be Reviewed
Post, 28 Nov 2006 (Thompson).

What's Yours Is Mine; Especially if you live in Prince George's County -- and I am elected to serve you.
Post, 25 Nov 2006 (Editorial).

Prince George's Taxpayers Pick Up Officials' Personal Tabs; Records Show Thousands of Dollars Charged to County-Issued Cards in Violation of Policy
Post, 20 Nov 2006 (Thompson).

Exum, Harrington take top Prince George’s Council posts

Gazette, Berger, 5 Dec 2006

Four under investigation for alleged unauthorized use of county credit cards

Gazette, Berger, 30 Nov 2006

Prince George's Taxpayers Pick Up Officials' Personal Tabs

Records Show Thousands of Dollars Charged to County-Issued Cards in Violation of Policy
Post, Thompson, 20 Nov 2006

• Exum, Camille
• Harrington, David
• Johnson, Jack B.

Residents Fume Over Expense Accounts

Post, Helderman, 20 Nov 2006

Pr. George's Calls On Md. Prosecutor; Officials' Visa Bills Will Be Reviewed

Post, Thompson, 28 Nov 2006

More on PG County Credit Card Corruption

The November 20 Washington Post story: "Prince George's Taxpayers Pick Up Officials' Personal Tabs; Records Show Thousands of Dollars Charged to County-Issued Cards in Violation of Policy" generated a fair amount of discussion, especially about some of the lame excuses put forward by various officials.

The Gazette followed up with a November 22 editorial mentioning that the Gazette had been reporting on similar issues since 2000. In the editorial, the Gazette said:

If Prince George's is to ever overcome its reputation for ethical ''lapses," policies and processes regarding officials' expenditures must be overhauled immediately.
Those who fail to repay the county government for personal expenses in the time allotted should have their credit cards revoked. Abuse of these benefits should be announced to the public – residents should know if representatives are not willing to abide by county laws.
Repayment for personal expenses must be made by check so there is a paper trail – the county should be ashamed of making photocopies of cash as proof of payment – and documentation must be stored long-term.

And the November 27 Wasington Post has letters from unhappy taxpayers.

But the Gazette and letter writers don't go far enough. What we need is a strictly enforced procedure that results in promptly posting on the county web site detailed information about all expenditures by county elected officials using taxpayer's money.

Several of our elected officials have shown very clearly that they cannot be trusted to use county-issued credit cards either honestly or wisely.

And the rest--those who were not caught this time--have shown just as clearly that they cannot be trusted to police their colleagues.

As the Gazette said:

If Prince George's is to ever overcome its reputation for ethical ''lapses," policies and processes regarding officials' expenditures must be overhauled immediately.

It is time to start demanding that our scoff-law lawmakers obey the law.

More on PG County Credit Card Corruption

What's Yours Is Mine; Especially if you live in Prince George's County -- and I am elected to serve you.

Post, Editorial, 25 Nov 2006

Credit card déja vu

Gazette, Editorial, 24 Nov 2006

Prince George's County Executive Aids Friends (Comment)

Comparisons between the contracting practices of the Jack Johnson and Wayne Curry administrations are enivitable and serve to prove one basic point: Johnson awards consulting contracts to folks who admittedly possess no experience or expertise, while Curry made sure consultants had the knowledge and skills to fulfil their contract responsibilities. In the case of Currys friend, Linda Botts, the lady had years of supervisory and managerial government experience in social services and welfare related matters. So when the welfare to work initiative was created she retired from County government with a full pension and went into business. Last time I checked Ms. Botts company had been awarded similar contracts throughout the United States for a whole lot of $$$. Not bad for the friend of a local politician. And in the case of that other Curry friend, William Miller, I believe he was the former federal inspector general IG who Curry enticed to work for the County by offering him a significant pay cut. IGs are responsible for the auditing and investigation of massive programs to detect fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, and to promote efficiencies and economies in goverment. So when Curry asked Miller to monitor the countys huge school construction inititiatve, it was been there, done that. And theres another telling distinction between Johnson and Curry contracting practices: Curry required--and received--significantly detailled and regular consultant reports. In the case of the Johnson administration, however, the standard seems to be: Dont write a report if there is nothing to say.

By pgdave | Aug 10, 2006 9:21:58 AM

Prince George's County Executive Aids Friends (Comment)

Gee. Remember Wayne Curry, the millionaire former county executive that preceded Jack Son of Wayne Johnson in office? Both men have brought tremendous shame on the nations wealthiest, majority black county. Under Curry, Linda Botts quit her $99,000 a year job with Curry to form a brand new company and voila! Two days later she received a $65,000 contract from Curry. And then there was William D. Miller II, who had a PG salary of $116 K / yr. and within 3 days of quitting that job he magically received a 1/2 million dollar contract non-competed from Curry. Then, of course, there is the fact that only Friends of Wayne FOW i.e., campaign donors were able to get lucrative contracts building and guarding FedEx field. Space prohibits listing all of Currys insider dealings, but they were extensive. One final shot: Both Wayne Curry and Jack Johnson have inexplicably insisted that one of the most controversial, divisive, insider-dealing, backbiting politicos from PG be PGs representative on the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. Yes, sports fans, I am referring to the unsinkable but NOT incorruptible Juanita Miller. Among other things, in 2004 Curry/Johnson protege Juanita Miller helped bring WSSC rate payers within days of a boiled water alert because she refused to let a non-minority owned firm supply a critical purification chemical to WSSC. If these small samples constitute good government then I can do without it. I cant imagine why anyone, black or white, would have voted for Jack Johnson or for Wayne Curry.

By tim | Aug 9, 2006 6:03:28 PM |

Still more on PG County Credit Card Corruption

Rather than cut up the cards as suggested at the end of the article, the county should begin posting, on the county's web site, a full accounting of ALL the expenditures, whether credit card or other means of payment, made by our elected officials.

Our elected officials, both the offenders and the others, have made it clear they they cannot be trusted to monitor spending, so they should make the data readily available for both citizens and the press to monitor how our money is spent.

On 11/30/06, Jacob Andoh wrote:

Source/credit: Washington Post, Thursday, November 30, 2006;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/29/AR2006112901394_pf.html

Residents Fume Over Expense Accounts
Inquiry Underway Into Officials' Credit Card Use

By Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 30, 2006; B02

Officials in Prince George's continue to hear from angry constituents concerned that public officials have charged thousands of dollars to their county-issued credit cards to pay for personal expenses, violating county policy. Even as State Prosecutor Robert A. Rohrbaugh launches an investigation, the County Council has pledged to work on a parallel track to review procedures for use of the cards and appropriate business expenditures.

A recent Washington Post article examined county records and found that over the past four years, council members and County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) have charged thousands of dollars to county Visa cards for expenses such as clothing, gym memberships and plane tickets. The revelations have hit a nerve for some county residents, coming only a few months after the disclosure that in Johnson's first term, he awarded several million dollars in county contracts to friends and supporters, some of whom produced no work in return.
As a result, Johnson battled charges of corruption from former delegate Rushern L. Baker III before the Democratic primary for executive in September. Johnson narrowly defeated Baker in a race that most predicted would not be close.

"The one-word summary on people's reaction is outrage," said Stan Fetter, a community activist from Accokeek. "The contracting business a few months ago and now this? It all stinks to high heaven."

The council did not address the matter at its public meeting Tuesday, and Johnson declined to comment on the investigation.

Council Chairman Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Laurel) said he has fielded a dozen e-mails and phone calls in response to the credit-card usage. Ramon Korionoff, spokesman for State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, said his office received about 40 calls and e-mails demanding an investigation. Ivey referred the matter to Rohrbaugh.

"There have been many angry constituents calling about this matter," Korionoff said. "Many of them have suggested that if they were to do that sort of thing, they might either be fired or criminally prosecuted."

It has also been a popular topic on Internet mailing lists, where residents have taken Johnson and the council to task.

Dernoga said he believed that The Post article "blurred the distinction between personal expenses, which must be reimbursed, and expenses that qualify as business expenses. However, they may be argued to be extravagant."

He said that based on his discussions with staff members, he believed that all personal expenses had been repaid by council members near the time they were incurred and that the investigation would prove it. He said the council will review its policies on how much is appropriate to spend on legitimate county expenses.

Jim Keary, a spokesman for Johnson, said his office has received only three phone calls and possibly no e-mails on the issue. Keary said he spoke to each of the callers, convincing each that Johnson's expenses were legitimate.

"What's important is that once people find out the entire truth on it, they have a complete understanding," he said.

He said he explained that a 2005 trip Johnson took to Senegal was for the dedication of a $46 million project by a Prince George's developer. Johnson used his county credit card to pay $6,003 for business-class plane tickets.

Keary also explained that a trip to Las Vegas, for which Johnson stayed at the Bellagio hotel, resulted in important business deals for the county.

Those explanations did little to sway Alonzo Grigsby, a resident from Fort Washington. "When you go to places like the Bellagio, you're trying to get first-class accommodations," he said. "I just don't think that's absolutely necessary for county officials."

Fetter said he was doubtful that the council and Johnson could fully investigate their own actions. He said they should cease their use of the county-issued credit cards. Elected officials in the region's two similar-size jurisdictions, Montgomery and Fairfax counties, do not receive credit cards.

"The council should pull out their cards," he said "Everyone should put them in a pile and cut them up. I want to watch it on TV. Anything short of that is lip service."

Hoffler-Riddick found guilty of money laundering

HAMPTON ROADS News (Printable Version): "Hoffler-Riddick found guilty of money laundering
The Virginian-Pilot
� October 14, 2005
Last updated: 7:02 PM

Pamela Hoffler-Riddick

Background: Ex-Norfolk educator portrayed in trial as naive
NORFOLK — A jury late today found Pamela Hoffler-Riddick, the former Norfolk schools official, guilty of five counts of money laundering in a wide-ranging drug conspiracy.

Hoffler-Riddick, 44, stood stoical as the court clerk read the verdict. She faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced in January.

She and her attorney declined to comment following the verdict.

An indictment accused Hoffler-Riddick of funneling about $16,000 in drug proceeds through her credit union account in the fall of 2000. She claimed she had no idea that her then-boyfriend, John Cecil McBride, was using her to hide his drug gains.

Federal agents estimate that the ring distributed about $20 million in marijuana and cocaine, imported largely from Mexico and trucked or flown to Hampton Roads and other locations between 1996 and 2004. Hoffler-Riddick was not charged with any drug offenses.

Hoffler-Riddick had been a standout educator in Virginia Beach and in Norfolk. As principal of Ruffner Middle School from 1994 to 1997, she gained recognition by instituting uniforms as a way to improve student behavior. She went on to administrator positions in the Washington suburbs but lost a $138,000-a-year job after her arrest.

For the full story, see Saturday's Virginian-Pilot and PilotOnline.com."

Teacher budget may pay for administrative overruns

Teacher budget may pay for administrative overruns

School leaders in Prince George's County are holding onto $26 million that had been allocated for teachers' salaries, and plan to use it to help offset overspending of about $13 million on administration salaries.

Last year, the Prince George's Board of Education and Schools CEO Andre J. Hornsby requested almost $504 million for teachers' salaries, but now expects to spend about $478 million by the end of fiscal 2005 in June. [More]

PG Asst. Supt. Arrested on Drug Charges

PG Asst. Supt. Arrested on Drug Charges

Fwd: Channel 9 News "Assistant Superintendent Busted in Drug Ring"

More on Hoffler-Riddick and a Question

Sen. Lawlah praises Johnson and Hornsby

Post, 13 Jan 2005

Governor's Visit to Include Town Hall Meeting

By Ovetta Wiggins
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 13, 2005; Page PG02
. . .
Sen. Gloria G. Lawlah (D-Hillcrest Heights) praised Johnson for bringing the delegation together. She also lavished praise on schools chief Andre J. Hornsby, who was in attendance as well, for the work he has done in the school system.

Comment:

I don't understand!

Murders and car thefts are up on Johnson's watch. The schools remain lousy and Hornsby is under investigation.

Why the praise, especially for Hornsby?

Does Sen. Lawlah endorse ethics violations, school bus and report card problems, audit delays?

And how about Johnson's failure to deal with the ongoing, graffiti-covered Oxon Hill Library fiasco in Sen. Lawlah's own district?

Does Sen. Lawlah somehow have the difference between success and failure turned around in her mind?

Feds now investigating school chief Hornsby

Feds now investigating school chief Hornsby

Post: Pr. George's Schools Panel To Study Contract Awards

Re: Feds now investigating school chief Hornsby

Why does the school system have ethics rules?

Both the Sun and the Post have run a number of stories about the appearence of improper behavior by PG school CEO Andre J. Hornsby.

The school board's ethic rules prohibit "even the appearance of improper influence."

According to press reports, Beatrice Tignor, chair of the non-elected patronage school board is not concerned by Hornsby's apparent violation of the rules. There is no indication that the board plans to enforce its own rules.

Quoted by the Post, Howard Tutman, president of the County Council of PTAs, said the inquiries into Hornsby's conduct are "another distraction."

As far as the school board and PTA folks are concerned, Hornsby's apparent violation of the ethics rules is unimportant. That's a great message for the CEO and his employers to be communicating to the staff and public.

Obviously, the messages here are

• the rules are not important, and
• if rules are made to be broken, it's ok to violate the other rules too, right?

Wouldn't we be better off without the rules and accompanying hypocrisy?

Ex-Aides To Curry Awarded Contracts

Linda W. Botts:
          Linda W. Botts is Wayne Curry’s former deputy chief administrative officer at a salary of $99,000/year.   While still employed by Curry, Botts established Ashlin Management Group.
          Botts quit her job with Curry at the beginning of August 1996. Two days later, county records show her firm received a $65,000 contract from the county. Before the end of the year, the county blessed her firm with another $475,000 contract. The Post’s research revealed that Botts’ company, Ashlin Management, so far has performed more than $1.6 million in contract services for the county, some of which were no-bid, non-competed contract awards.
          Botts and her husband have contributed more than $18,000 to Wayne Curry’s two successful campaigns for Prince Georges County executive.
          Botts’ first $65,000 contract with the county was to train her successor.  (Most employers take a different route to train replacement personnel:  they keep the incoming and outgoing individual on the payroll while the training takes place.)