City workers caught gambling, drinking on duty
Baltimore authorities on Friday broke up what they described as a regular “payday” gambling game involving more than a dozen city transportation workers who police said were arrested after being caught drinking champagne and playing dice in a city office.
The roundup occurred in a Department of Transportation building on East Madison Street and was sparked by a tip to city officials, who contacted the Inspector General, which investigates corruption, fraud and waste in city offices.
Agents from the inspector’s office went unannounced to the building Friday afternoon and then called police when it became apparent there was criminal activity. A city police spokesman said several workers scattered when agents arrived and one was charged with assaulting an investigator.
“Although these are not violent crimes, it’s particularly egregious because it’s a violation of the public trust,” said the Baltimore Police Department’s chief spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi. “These are city employees who are paid by the taxpayers and they are expected to work. They shouldn’t be gambling and drinking on the city’s dime.”
More information and a list of employees arrested:
The 13 workers involved were described as relatively low-level employees assigned to the transportation department’s Special Events unit. Their duties include setting up and working at area festivals. They were all handcuffed and taken to the Central Booking and Intake Center.
Police said they charged each with misdemeanor gambling offenses and most were released on low bails or were still being processed on Saturday. One worker, Michael Flowers, 68, was also charged with one count of assault.
Guglielmi said that the tipster had recently notified the Inspector General’s Office that workers were gambling on each Friday, which is payday. The office sent agents to investigate and “sure enough there was a gambling operation,” the spokesman said.
Authorities said that the agents “observed several employees on duty throwing dice and consuming alcohol.” They said the agents found a bottle of Remy champagne and case in the middle of the office floor. They said $6,300 was seized.
The agents with the inspector’s office do not have arrest powers. Guglielmi said “a couple employees became unruly and a couple ran in different directions.” The agents called city police and officers from the Eastern District responded.
Adrienne Barnes, a spokeswoman for the city transportation department, would not say whether workers have been suspected, but she did say that “they will not be responding to work on Monday.” In a statement, she said that “any activity that undermines the integrity of the transportation department will not be tolerated.”
Both Barnes and Guglielmi said this case demonstrates the city’s ability “to policing itself.”
Here is a list of the workers arrested, as provided by Baltimore police. All were charged with gambling offenses. Flowers was also charged with one count of assault:
Michael Flowers 7/2/68
Kevin Shellington 9/12/64
Carlton Baskerville 4/4/65
Frank Trauntan 7/6/62
Franklin Fisher 5/18/76
Sean McGilbeary 4/30/77
Allen Hack 2/15/82
Gary Mackey 6/3/62
David Decarlo 7/25/60
Yusef Shaw 12/1/80
Dedric Benson 12/1/75
Christopher Hawkins 8/14/79
Frank Troutman 7/6/62
Comments
I DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYBODY GOT A KNOT IN THERE SHORTS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND NOT JUST IN TRANSPORTATION. REC. & PKS., HOUSING AND WASTE WATER. IF YOU LOOK HARD ENOUGH YOU'LL FIND DRUG DEALING ALSO. REMEMBER THE BUST OUTSIDE OF LAFAYETTE MARKET INVOLVING CITY TRASH COLLECTION PEOPLE. IT'S WIDE SPREAD AND HAS BE TOLARATED FOR YEARS.
Posted by: UNCLEOLLIE41 | March 28, 2011 1:20 PM
6k seized? These worker's salleries can't be more than 30k--throw in taxes and your looking at less than 20k take home. So every Friday, they take their 400.00 paycheck, buy a case of Remy Champagne, and gamble over 6k pots? Really??????
Posted by: matt | March 29, 2011 8:46 AM
These are all union employees,
I am sure the union will ensure that they have their job back.
All long term workers. That's what the union dues gets paid for.
Also gambling is a sickness, why did the city not reach out to them and offer them help.
Posted by: sunless days | March 29, 2011 7:58 PM