BALTIMORE — A Baltimore Public Works employee was indicted Thursday on federal charges of extortion.
For over years, 46-year-old Ronald Maurice Smith used his perks as an Baltimore DPW Water and Waste Management supervisor to profit himself and others with city workers and property to install water, sewer and fire lines services without paying city fees or obtaining permits.
According to the indictment, Smith was paid cash by property owners or developers. He either asked for a cash payment or used his associate, identified as Philip Loverde, a licensed plumber and a co-owner of a plumbing company to create a false All Services invoice to submit to the private property owner or developer. The false documents claims that and DPW crews did the work.
The indictment alleges that Smith received at least $64,000 as a result of the scheme.
Officials said in February 2016, he found illegally carrying a .380-caliber handgun.
Smith and Loverde each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for extortion under color of official right. Smith also faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a gun.
