BALTIMORE WOMAN CONVICTED OF STEALING
MONEY FROM STATE AGENCY

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today the conviction of Yolanda E. Harris, 42, for theft of $6,490 in a scheme to steal money from the State Department of Business and Economic Development ("DBED"). Last month, six individuals - including Harris - were indicted in the scheme, in which the thefts totaled more than $33,000. The other defendants are set for trial on February 28, 2007 in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Harris, of Evergreen Avenue in Baltimore, pled guilty before the Honorable Martin Welch to participating in a scheme with Denise Rosado, a friend who worked at DBED as an Administrative Assistant. As part of the scheme, they created false invoices for nonexistent services supposedly rendered to the agency, which Rosado approved for payment. Although the invoices claimed that Harris had provided certain graphics and printed materials to the Agency, in fact, no such services were provided. When the checks in payment were issued, Harris and Rosado would meet, cash the checks and split the proceeds.

Judge Welch sentenced Harris to three years, suspended all of it and placed her on three years probation. He also ordered her to repay to DBED the $6,490 she stole.

The case was referred to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Attorney General’s Office by DBED, which is located on E. Redwood Street in Baltimore.