Grease the Palm | Maryland | Covid-19 Fraud

“Going forward, I’m just your inside man,” claimed Joseph Gillespie, as he put his hand out. Just grease the palm, and he will take care of the rest…the rest being any financial obligations that a property owner in Baltimore, Maryland might have with the Department of Finance. Between 2016 and 2023, Joseph Gillespie, 35, engaged in a bribery scheme during which he abused his position in the Department of Finance for personal gain. Gillespie often accepted bribes from property owners in the city when their property was subject to financial obligations.

He accepted the bribes in exchange for removing the financial obligations, such as citations or tax and water payments. Gillespie also accepted bribes to delay payment due dates, preventing the city from placing a lien on the property. Once he received the bribes, Gillespie would delete the financial obligation by changing the city’s online records. He would then send photos of a cashier slip to show a payment was made when it wasn’t. Gillespie’s bribery scheme continued for years. The bribes were often 10% to 15% of what was owed to the city. He received more than $250,000 and caused the city to lose more than $1 million.

Gillespie didn’t need to grease anyone’s palm to get COVID-19 loans. Banks didn’t restrict enough during the pandemic to warrant a bribe. Bribery and fraud might be different in the basics of criminal activities. But the intent is the same – to divert money and resources for personal gain. In 2020, Gillespie submitted a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan application and on March 6, 2021 received $138,000 in forgivable loans. Forgivable for him, but not for the U.S. taxpayer.

Shout out to the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force in this case.

Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Former Baltimore City employee sentenced to 4 years for bribery, COVID-19 relief schemes” published by CBS News on February 21, 2025.

A former Baltimore City Department of Finance employee was sentenced to four years in federal prison in connection with a bribery scheme and fraud involving COVID-19 relief funds, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

Between 2016 and 2023, Joseph Gillespie, 35, engaged in a bribery scheme during which he abused his position in the Department of Finance for his personal gain, according to court records.  Court documents show Gillespie often accepted bribes from property owners in the city when their property was subject to financial obligations. The bribes were often 10% to 15% of what was owed to the city.