FIFTH EX-STATE EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH ACCEPTING BRIBES IN CURRAN’S CONTINUING CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that a Criminal Information has been filed against Lucinda Nasario-Easley of Largo, Md. in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. The Criminal Information alleges that Mrs. Nasario-Easley, 29, a former employee of the Upper Marlboro, Maryland State Highway Administration maintenance facility, ordered janitorial and cleaning supplies from Stone Cold Chemical on her State credit card, in return for which she was sent bribes in the form of gift certificates from ToysRUs, BabiesRUs, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Home Depot, Six Flags Amusement Parks, Sears and Circuit City. Her scheme ran from July, 2001 to September, 2002.

Mrs. Nasario-Easley is also charged with felony theft, in that she stole in excess of $500 worth of automobile tires and parts, and three HP ink cartridges, from the maintenance facility where she worked.

Stone Cold, a Florida cleaning supply company, as well as its owners and salespeople have been successfully prosecuted in Georgia and Florida State Courts for bribing State employees. To date, Attorney General Curran has charged five former State employees with corruption in connection with his ongoing criminal investigation into Stone Cold’s business practices.

A criminal information is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and every individual is presumed innocent until the charges are proven by the State. The maximum for Bribery is 2 to 12 years incarceration, and for felony theft, 15 years incarceration.

The matter was referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the Legislative Auditor, and was investigated by the AG’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Maryland State Police.

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