A nationwide manhunt was underway on Wednesday for the one-time chief of staff to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan after he failed to show up to a court appearance earlier this week.
Roy McGrath, who served as Hogan’s top aide, did not show up for his federal fraud and theft trial on Monday, prompting U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman to sign a warrant for his arrest.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Service released a wanted poster for McGrath.
According to court documents, he is charged with wire fraud, theft in programs receiving federal funds, and falsification of records in federal investigations in connection with an indictment that says he defrauded the Maryland Environmental Service, the state agency where he worked before he became Hogan’s chief of staff.
McGrath is facing a maximum of 100 years in federal prison for charges he illegally recorded top officials, Hogan among them, and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from state government. That includes more than $233,000 from the Maryland Environmental Service he claimed was an approved severance package.
The Justice Department has since said he secured the payment by “falsely telling them that the Governor was aware of and approved the payment.”
McGrath resigned from Hogan’s office in August 2020 amid inquiries about the severance payout.
McGrath is also accused of falsifying time sheets while on a European vacation in 2019.
His attorney, Joseph Murtha. said he last spoke to McGrath Sunday afternoon.
“I have no further information. I really do hope that he’s safe. I was shocked, quite honestly,” Murtha said of McGrath’s failure to appear.