Associated Press
July 21, 2007
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,
what's best for his family, he believes that the best thing
to do was to admit that he did make some mistakes and to put
this matter to rest so that he and his family can move on with
their lives."
Bromwell's wife, Mary Patricia Bromwell, will plead guilty
to one count of mail fraud, Pollack said. Her attorney, William
Purpura, did not immediately return a telephone call Friday.
Sentencing guidelines call for her to serve between 2 1/2 years
and 3 years, he said.
The Bromwells were to enter their pleas Tuesday in U.S. District
Court in Baltimore. Pollack said he and Purpura will argue
that the Bromwells deserve shorter sentences than what the
guidelines call for.
"We certainly hope that the court will taken into account
Mr. Bromwell's many, many years of public service and the very
positive things that he has done for the people of Maryland," Pollack
said.
Purpura told The Sun of Baltimore that he would argue that
probation is appropriate for Mary Patricia Bromwell.
Thomas Bromwell, a Democrat, represented Baltimore County
from 1983 to 2002.
He was accused of receiving more than $85,000 in construction
work on a new house in 2000 and 2001 that W. David Stoffregen,
who was president of Poole and Kent Co., provided for free.
Stoffregen also was accused of giving Mary Patricia Bromwell
more than $192,000 from 2001 to 2003 for a no-show job at Namco
Services Corp.
Stoffregen was one of seven people to plead guilty as part
of the case against Thomas Bromwell.
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein did not return a call seeking
comment Friday.
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