Md. State Senator Aided Shoppers Food & Pharmacy Despite Conflict of Interest: FBI
Court papers unsealed by federal judges indicate that State Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Dist. 25) of District Heights has worked for Shoppers Food & Pharmacy since 2003 and spoke with company executives over 300 times during that period despite obvious conflicts of interest, according to published reports.
Currie is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly using his influence as a longtime state official to secretly help the Supervalu-owned chain, and taking payments from the company for consulting work without declaring them on required state ethics forms.
Supervalu has declined comment on the case, except to say that Currie worked as an "outside consultant" for Shoppers Food & Pharmacy.
In May federal agents searched Currie's home and removed documents.
The court papers, which were unsealed earlier this month so Currie and his lawyer could examine them, were released to the public after an attorney representing local newspapers and TV stations petitioned the court.
Additionally, the court papers alleged that Currie's work for Lanham, Md.-based Shoppers Food & Pharmacy included getting a liquor license transferred from a store in Takoma Park to another in College Park in 2005, and persuading state leaders to expand the Mondawin Mall in Baltimore, where the grocer wished to have a store.
Currie is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly using his influence as a longtime state official to secretly help the Supervalu-owned chain, and taking payments from the company for consulting work without declaring them on required state ethics forms.
Supervalu has declined comment on the case, except to say that Currie worked as an "outside consultant" for Shoppers Food & Pharmacy.
In May federal agents searched Currie's home and removed documents.
The court papers, which were unsealed earlier this month so Currie and his lawyer could examine them, were released to the public after an attorney representing local newspapers and TV stations petitioned the court.
Additionally, the court papers alleged that Currie's work for Lanham, Md.-based Shoppers Food & Pharmacy included getting a liquor license transferred from a store in Takoma Park to another in College Park in 2005, and persuading state leaders to expand the Mondawin Mall in Baltimore, where the grocer wished to have a store.