Ringleader of Theft Scheme Convicted of Stealing
Over $33,000 from State Agency

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced the conviction and sentencing of
Denise Rosado, 40, of Glen Burnie, for stealing $33,269 from the State of Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), where she was employed as an administrative assistant. After accepting Rosado’s guilty plea to felony theft, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn K. Stewart sentenced her to three years incarceration with all but six months suspended, to be followed by three years of supervised probation. While on probation, Rosado must pay $7,292 in restitution to DBED and submit to any substance abuse evaluation and treatment directed by the Division of Parole and Probation.

The State investigation revealed that between May, 2003 and September, 2004, the defendant took advantage of her position in the Communications Office at DBED to mastermind the theft of more than $33,000 from her employer. She stole the money by creating fictitious invoices in the names of non-existent vendors, causing the agency to issue a total of 17 fraudulent checks in payment for services never rendered. The fraudulent checks were actually received by five of Rosado’s family members and friends, persons later indicted as Rosado’s co-defendants. Rosado then arranged to meet with her co-conspirators to split the stolen money.

Four of Denise Rosado’s five co-defendants have already been convicted and are presently on court-ordered probation, with the condition that each pay restitution to DBED. Another conspirator, James Barnes, has yet to be arrested on the warrant issued following his indictment.

The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Criminal Division of the Attorney General’s Office with the assistance of the State Department of Business and Economic Development and the Maryland State Police. Assistant Attorney General Kate O’Donnell represented the State at Rosado’s conviction and sentencing.