Aging black politicians getting indicted is becoming commonplace. This time it's Maryland State Senator Ulysses Currie, who is chairman of a legislative committee that steers $32 billion in state spending. Currie is accused of using his influence to benefit the grocery store chain Shoppers Food Warehouse. The 73-year-old was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and extortion. On his financial disclosure form, Currie apparently failed to report $850,000 in state funds for Shoppers' rent, $2 million for interchange improvements funding for Route 198, amending beer-and-wine legislation to help a store get a liquor license and marking a state donation for the Food Bank as paid for by Shoppers Food Warehouse. Ouch. Corruption involving a grocery store chain? In case you're wondering, former Shoppers Food Warehouse President William J. White and Vice President for Real Estate Development R. Kevin Small have also been indicted by the U.S. attorney's office in connection with a scheme from 2002 to 2008 to pay Currie. It looks like another one bites the dust. Sadly, there are sure to be more indictments to come in local, state and national politics.
Read more at WJZ.com.