,"Roy McGrath, who once served as the top aide to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, has been on the run for over a week after failing to appear in..."
The search for Roy McGrath, the former chief of staff to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), intensified on Tuesday as federal officials issued a wanted poster in an effort to locate the fugitive. A federal judge issued a bench warrant Monday for McGrath after he failed to appear in court for his scheduled federal corruption trial.
The U.S. Marshals Service issued a wanted poster on Tuesday offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of McGrath. The poster describes McGrath as a white male, 6’2” tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds, with blue eyes and gray hair.
McGrath served as Hogan’s chief of staff from 2015-2017. He was indicted in 2018 on charges of federal corruption for his involvement in a bribery and kickback scheme. He was accused of accepting cash bribes from a contractor in exchange for privileged information, and then using those funds to pay for expensive personal purchases.
McGrath was scheduled to appear in court on Monday for the start of his federal corruption trial. When he failed to appear, the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest. While his whereabouts remain unknown, a group of law enforcement officers were spotted outside McGrath’s Florida home on Tuesday.
The federal investigation into McGrath’s alleged criminal activities has been ongoing for several years, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland leading the inquiry. Investigators have worked to uncover evidence of the scheme, which includes numerous bank accounts and shell companies that were allegedly used to facilitate the bribes and kickbacks.
McGrath is accused of using the money he received to purchase items such as a luxury SUV, a high-end watch and a designer handbag. He is also alleged to have used the funds to pay for vacations and other luxury experiences.
The case has been closely watched by political observers, as McGrath was once seen as a rising star in the Republican Party. McGrath’s disappearance has been met with surprise and dismay from his former colleagues in the Maryland state government, who are now calling on him to surrender himself to authorities.
The manhunt for McGrath is an ongoing effort, and federal authorities have asked the public for assistance in locating him. Anyone with information on McGrath’s whereabouts is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service or call their local police department.
McGrath’s federal corruption trial is on indefinite hold until he is located and taken into custody. The case against him is considered a top priority for the Trump administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland, and federal officials remain hopeful that McGrath will be apprehended soon.
