Former Gov. Larry Hogan (R-MD) gave his support to the efforts of the FBI and United States Marshals to track down his former chief of staff, Roy McGrath, who failed to appear in court in Baltimore on March 13.
“Governor Hogan fully supports local, state, and federal law enforcement efforts to resolve this situation,” a Hogan spokesperson said.
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After McGrath failed to appear in court for his criminal trial in Baltimore, a federal arrest warrant was issued. Federal authorities are now offering $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
While McGrath has pleaded not guilty, Hogan will be testifying against him on behalf of the prosecution.
The 53-year-old faces an eight-count federal indictment with charges including wire fraud. He is being accused of allegedly securing a $233,648 severance payment equal to one year of salary as the head of the Maryland Environmental Service and faces fraud and embezzlement charges for roughly $170,000 in expenses.
Hogan’s former chief of staff allegedly used his positions as the Maryland Environmental Service director and as the governor’s chief of staff to personally enrich himself by falsely telling the environmental board that the governor had approved his six-figure severance payment.
Joseph Murtha, McGrath’s attorney, was surprised when his client had not appeared in court on March 13. He reportedly had a “substantive” conversation with McGrath before the court hearing and said his client had planned to board a flight to Baltimore before the court hearing.
“I didn’t see this coming,” Murtha said. “This behavior is so out of the ordinary for him. Obviously, his personal safety is a concern.”
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McGrath had resigned from his role in the governor’s office after the six-figure severance payment was revealed.
Last month, Hogan announced that he would not run for president in the 2024 election.