A former employee with the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) and a business owner both pleaded guilty this week to procurement fraud, according to Attorney General Anthony Brown.

It comes after a scheme that resulted in public contracts being awarded to First Potomac Environmental Corporation, owned by Joseph Chimah, the AG said. The contracts were for cleaning, maintenance and repair work at DPSCS facilities.

Fraud Scheme

According to the AG's office, Chimah and a former DPSCS employee, Martin Obi, engaged in a scheme to steer at least eight department contracts to First Potomac.

The scheme took place between 2018 and 2022 and included contracts for sidewalk repairs, duct cleanings and painting.

According to AG Brown, Chimah submitted fraudulent b

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