A local utility contractor was ordered by a federal judge on Friday to pay $100,000 in fines for his role in extorting bribes from area businessmen in return for waiving “street cut” fines.
Jerome W. Stephens, owner of A&A Construction and Utilities, had pleaded guilty to conspiring with Daryl Christopher Wade, an ex-Department of Transportation supervisor, to extort bribes “under color of official right” from business owners throughout Baltimore, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Wade used his position as construction supervisor at DOT to reduce or erase fines for expired street cut permits in return for cash payments.
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