POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH THEFT
AND INSURANCE FRAUD

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., announced today the filing of criminal theft and insurance fraud charges against Calvin Roots, 39, of Forestville, Maryland. In a six (6) count indictment filed in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Roots was charged with stealing $8,991.95 in insurance benefits from State Farm Insurance Company in 2001 by making false statements in support of an insurance claim. Roots is a Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer. The indictment follows a joint investigation conducted by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General.

The charges allege that between September 8 and November 30, 2001, Roots made oral statements and presented documentation containing false and misleading information concerning a claim with State Farm Insurance Company.

If convicted of theft, Roots could be sentenced to serve 15 years in prison and fined $25,000. He also faces 15 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine if convicted on the insurance fraud counts.

An indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and every individual is presumed innocent until the charges are proven by the State. A trial date of May 15, 2006 has been tentatively set.