MONTGOMERY COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BRIBERY AND PROCUREMENT FRAUD CHARGES

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Anthony Bruce of the 300 block of Howard Avenue in Rockville, pled guilty to bribery and procurement fraud charges in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. According to the Statement of Facts, Bruce, 62, a former employee of the Fairland State Highway maintenance facility in Montgomery County, between January 2001 and October 2003, received bribes from Stone Cold Chemical, Inc., a janitorial and maintenance supply company from whom he ordered numerous items, using his State credit card. Bruce also pled guilty to procurement fraud, in that he fraudulently colluded with Stone Cold to receive personal items of value in violation of the law. The Honorable Chief Judge DeLawrence Beard has scheduled a sentencing date for July 6, 2005.

Mr. Bruce was by far the biggest purchaser of Stone Cold items amongst all Maryland State employees charged in this investigation. His total purchases from the company were $73,189.61. For those purchases, made with his state credit card, Mr. Bruce received 34 bribes, in the form of gift certificates and merchandise, totaling $4,300. Some of those gift certificates were from Wal-Mart, JC Penney, ToysRUs, Sears, Bass Pro Shop, Men’s Wearhouse, Outback Steakhouse and Disney, as well as Disney toys and accessories, Hershey’s chocolates and a Fossil watch - all for the purpose of influencing him to buy cleaning products at overinflated prices and ship them at exorbitant prices as well. An example of the prices– Mr. Bruce purchased cans of wasp spray, which normally cost around $3, for $28.50 a can.

Stone Cold’s owners and salespeople have been successfully prosecuted in Georgia and Florida state courts for bribing State employees. Stone Cold Incorporated has been barred from doing business in Maryland. The State’s investigation is continuing and more charges are expected.

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

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