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Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced that Clarence Woods, Jr., a 63-year-old resident of Glen Burnie, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for his involvement in a sophisticated felony theft scheme and securities fraud. Woods’s conviction stems from defrauding 13 investors out of more than $380,000 through a Ponzi-style investment scheme. In addition to the investment fraud, Woods also executed a separate theft scheme, misappropriating over $175,000 by illicitly transferring funds from a client’s bank account into his personal accounts. Collectively, Woods’s fraudulent activities impacted 16 victims and resulted in total stolen funds exceeding $550,000.
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The sentencing, which took place on October 30, 2025, was presided over by the Honorable Mark W. Crooks of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. Woods received an 18-month jail sentence at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center. Following his release from incarceration, he will be subject to five years of supervised probation. The court also mandated that Woods pay $573,161 in restitution to the victims he defrauded. Should Woods violate the terms of his probation, he faces an additional potential jail time of over 18 years. Woods had previously entered a guilty plea in the case on September 4, 2025, before Judge Crooks. This case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Criminal Division and Securities Division, with contributions from Criminal Division Chief Katie Dorian, Fraud and Corruption Unit Chief Alexander Huggins, Investigative Auditor Aimie Haupt, and Assistant Attorney General Ryan Cornell. Assistance was also provided by the State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County, Anne Colt Leitess.
For residents of Maryland, this sentencing serves as a reminder of the serious legal consequences for financial misconduct. Those who have been victims of fraudulent schemes may have recourse through restitution orders, though the recovery of all stolen funds is not always guaranteed. The imposition of jail time and supervised probation aims to deter future criminal activity and protect the public.
Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General.
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