Free Republic

BALTIMORE - Former state Sen. Thomas Bromwell, a powerful figure in Annapolis during his nearly 20 years in the legislature, has agreed to plead guilty to taking bribes from a construction company executive, his attorney said Friday. Bromwell, 58, will plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy and filing a false tax return, said attorney Barry Pollack. Sentencing guidelines call for a prison term of about 6 1/2 years to 8 years for the former Senate Finance Committee chairman, Pollack said. "It was a very difficult decision for him, but taking into account what's best for him, what's best for his wife,...

BALTIMORE (AP) - A once-powerful former state senator was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of influence-peddling in exchange for free contracting work on a new house and other favors. Thomas Bromwell was indicted with his wife, Mary Patricia Bromwell, and W. David Stoffregen, the former CEO of the contracting firm Poole and Kent Co. The 30-count indictment alleges that during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Stoffregen provided various benefits to Thomas Bromwell in exchange for his agreement to use his influence to help the Baltimore-based firm, which has won multimillion-dollar local and state contracts. Stoffregen allegedly gave Thomas Bromwell...