Baltimore County Man Accused of Bribing City Official to Wipe Out Property Debts

A Baltimore County resident is facing federal charges after allegedly paying thousands of dollars in bribes to a former Baltimore City finance official to eliminate outstanding debts tied to his properties. The payments, made over a span of more than two years, resulted in the improper removal of financial obligations, including unpaid water bills, from city records.

Federal prosecutors allege that James Carroll Erny Jr., 54, of Glen Arm, paid at least $10,000 to Joseph Gillespie, a former employee in the Revenue Collections division of the Baltimore City Department of Finance, between August 2021 and September 2023. In exchange, Gillespie is accused of using his access to city systems to mark these obligations as paid, even though no payments had been made. This included sending falsified payment confirmations to property owners.

Gillespie had already been sentenced earlier this year to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a broader bribery and fraud scheme that extended from 2016 through 2023. He admitted to accepting bribes from multiple property owners in return for manipulating or eliminating their outstanding financial obligations to the city, such as tax bills, citations, and water charges. In total, he collected more than $250,000 in bribes, causing over $1.25 million in losses to the city.

Gillespie’s actions included delaying payment due dates and preventing tax sales without proper authorization. He would typically accept bribes amounting to 10–15 percent of the amount owed, often providing falsified receipts or documentation to indicate that the debts had been cleared. Prosecutors say Gillespie carried out this scheme with the help of several co-conspirators, one of whom is now alleged to be Erny.

Erny is charged with one count of bribery. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison. As with all federal charges, an indictment is not evidence of guilt, and Erny is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Sentencing decisions will be made by a federal judge, who will consider established guidelines and statutory factors.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland

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