Federal authorities launched a search Tuesday for former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s former chief of staff after he failed to appear in court on a series of fraud and other charges.
The US Marshals Service tweeted that he had launched an interstate fugitive investigation into Roy McGrath, and his Baltimore office «is now seeking to apprehend the former Maryland governor’s top aide» after he was absent from Maryland federal court on Monday.
A warrant for his arrest has also been issued, sheriffs added.
NBC News has reached out to the agency for comment on the manhunt.
According to court documents, McGrath faces charges of wire fraud, theft in programs receiving federal funds and falsifying records in federal investigations, in connection with an indictment that he defrauded the state-owned Maryland Environmental Service.
Joseph Murtha, McGrath’s attorney, told NBC News in an email that he was unsure of his client’s whereabouts after he failed to appear Monday at 9 a.m. for arraignment and jury selection for the trial. before Judge Deborah L. Boardman.
“Unfortunately, at this time I have no further information on Mr. McGrath,” Murtha wrote. «I hope he is safe and that we have a chance to talk to each other in the near future.»
McGrath, who lives in Florida and has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, has been paroled on the conditions that he promise to appear in court as necessary and to serve any sentence imposed following a court appearance in October 2021.
According to the indictment, from March 2019 through December 2020, McGrath used his position with the Maryland Environmental Service to enrich himself by issuing fraudulent payments. The agency operates as an independent state entity that provides waste management and other services to local government agencies, federal government entities, and the private sector.
Prosecutors also charged McGrath, 53, with illegally recording private conversations with top state officials and falsifying their time sheets, alleging that he was at work while on vacation on two occasions in 2019.
McGrath first joined Hogan’s office as deputy chief of staff in 2015. Hogan then appointed him to head the Maryland Environmental Service in December 2016.
McGrath then briefly returned to the GOP governor’s office, to serve as Hogan’s chief of staff in June 2020. He resigned months later after facing backlash for receiving a «redundancy payment» more than $230,000 for the work of the Maryland Environmental Service before assuming his role as Hogan’s top assistant.