Roy McGrath was killed Monday in a shootout involving the FBI. Photo courtesy of the FBI
April 4 (UPI) — Fugitive Roy McGrath died of injuries sustained in a confrontation with FBI agents who have been pursuing former aide to former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan for weeks after he failed to appear at his federal corruption trial in Baltimore.
McGrath’s attorney, Joseph Murtha, said his client died Monday in Knoxville, Tennessee. the washington post informed.
“The loss of Roy’s life is an absolute tragedy, and I think it’s important for me to say that Roy never doubted his innocence,” Murtha said.
The FBI said in a declaration that McGrath was killed in an officer-involved shooting that occurred around 6:30 p.m.
“During the arrest, the subject, Roy McGrath, sustained injuries and was transported to the hospital,” the FBI said, adding that video of the shooting was being reviewed.
The FBI said it “takes seriously all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members. In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is being investigated by the FBI Inspection Division.”
The FBI had been hunting Hogan’s former chief of staff since an arrest warrant was issued for his arrest on March 12 after he failed to appear in a US district court in Baltimore that morning to face charges. of corruption.
A reward of $20,000 had been offered for information leading to his arrest.
McGrath, 53, was accused in October 2021 on four counts of wire fraud and two counts of embezzlement in connection with his time at the state-owned Maryland Environmental Service.
McGrath resigned from MES in May 2020 to become Hogan’s chief of staff. Prosecutors allege that McGrath illegally obtained a severance package of $233,000, equal to a year’s salary, by falsely telling the MES board of directors that it had been approved by the governor.
He was also charged with having MES funds paid as a pledge to a museum where he was a member of the board of directors.
A replacement accusation returned by a grand jury in June added one count of falsifying records on allegations that he knowingly forged a document after news of his severance package broke. Prosecutors said he created a false memo to the Maryland governor that created the illusion that Hogan had approved his large severance package by becoming his chief of staff.
McGrath had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
