FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today the indictments of Ronald Van Price, 51, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, and Walter O'Riley Poindexter, 50, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, in connection with an extensive procurement fraud and bribery scheme involving COVID-19 cleaning contracts at Maryland Department of Labor facilities. Price has been charged with procurement fraud, bribery, and perjury. Poindexter has been charged with procurement fraud and bribery.
“This alleged scheme represents a brazen misuse of taxpayer dollars during a public health crisis when Marylanders needed their government most," said Attorney General Brown. “Our Office will always hold accountable public officials who exploit their positions for personal gain and undermine the integrity of state service. Marylanders deserve a government that serves with honesty and dedication, especially in times of crisis."
Starting in February 2020, Ronald Price, who was the then-Acting Director of the Office of General Services for the Maryland Department of Labor, is alleged to have conspired with Walter Poindexter and Mark Sykes to steer over $479,000 in COVID-related cleaning contracts to Poindexter's company (P-Dex) and Sykes' company (Building Enterprises LLC). The scheme involved manipulating the procurement process, circumventing standard rules and procedures, and concealing material conflicts of interest. In exchange for Price's assistance, Poindexter and Sykes paid bribes to Price totaling at least $88,000.
In April 2025, Attorney General Brown announced the guilty plea of Mark Sykes, 51, of Randallstown, Maryland, who pleaded guilty to bribery in charges related to this scheme.
The cases have been charged in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. An arraignment date has not yet been set for either defendant.
In making today's announcement, Attorney General Brown thanked his Criminal Division, specifically Division Chief Katie Dorian, the Fraud and Corruption Unit Chief Alex Huggins, Chief Investigative Auditor Harry Schulz, Assistant Attorney General Alyn Pearson, and Assistant Attorneys General William Elman and Kathryn Bartz, who are prosecuting these cases. Attorney General Brown also thanked the Office of Legislative Audits and the Maryland State Police. Finally, Attorney General Brown thanked the Office of the State Prosecutor and State's Attorney for Baltimore County Scott Shellenberger for assisting with this prosecution.
A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until the State proves the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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