O'Malley Senior Advisor to be Sentenced
Most Important Civilian Appointee a Crook
In a release issued by the US Department of Justice, Richard Stewart, disgraced advisor, appointee, campaign leader, and close friend of Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley, is scheduled to be sentenced for stealing approximately $4 million from his employees at Montgomery Mechanical Services and not paying the taxes.
According to the Department of Justice, “From 2003 through at least 2008, Stewart did not collect, truthfully account for and pay over approximately $3,969,337 of Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes and federal income tax withholdings, commonly known as trust fund taxes, from his employees’ wages.” Stewart, who plead guilty to the charges faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Stewart was the only civilian appointment to the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Committee and also served on the Maryland Stadium Authority, another hi profile appointment. The sentencing is scheduled for Monday, April 23rd in the Courtroom of Judge Roger W. Titus in Greenbelt, Maryland [(301) 344-0660].The sentencing is scheduled for Monday, April 23rd in the Courtroom of Judge Roger W. Titus in Greenbelt, Maryland [(301) 344-0660].
David Ferguson, Executive Director of the Maryland Republican Party, expressed his frustration by saying, "Governor O'Malley has once again failed the hard working taxpayers of Maryland. This unapologetic friendship is the worst case of gross negligence in state history. While he was out raising money to support his blind political ambitions, he was letting the fox run the hen house on the most crooked maps in America. This administration can't sustain another failure if Martin O'Malley wants to be President."
Ferguson concluded, "This is Governor O’Malley’s most important appointment and it only comes around every ten years. The deal that was struck is almost as crooked as the maps that we are currently taking to referendum."
In a recent poll by Megellan Strategies, almost two-thirds of Marylanders rejected the "O'Malley-Stewart maps." According to Marylanders for Coherent & Fair Representation (MCFR), 62% agree that counties and communities of interest should be kept intact as much as possible when drawing Congressional districts. Only 17 percent disagreed.
The Maryland Republican Party has asked the Democratic Party and their elected officials to empty their campaign accounts of Richard Stewart's $75,000 in political contributions. So far, Governor Martin O'Malley, Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, and Congressman Elijah Cummings have all complied with the request.
Press Release Summary
12/19/2011 - Governor O’Malley’s Legislative Redistricting Plan is Overly Partisan and Divisive
12/22/2011 - O’Malley Advisor Guilty of Tax Evasion
12/26/2011 - Candidates Should Return Tainted Funds From Richard Stewart
12/29/2011 - Republicans Question O’Malley’s Judgement
1/9/2012 - Governor O’Malley Yet To Accept Responsibility for Stewart Debacle