A Baltimore County man has pleaded guilty to bribing a former Baltimore City finance official and fraudulently obtaining nearly $990,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, according to the Maryland District Attorney’s Office.
James Carroll Erny, Jr., 55, admitted to paying at least $25,000 in bribes to former Baltimore City Department of Finance employee Joseph Gillespie, court officials said.
In exchange for the bribes, Gillespie removed several of Erny’s financial obligations to the city. The city lost more than $145,000 due to the scheme, according to court officials.
Baltimore Bribery scheme
According to court documents, Erny engaged in the bribery scheme with Gillespie from December 2019 to August 2023. During that time, court officials said Gillespie abused his position for personal gain…