Robert J. Barrett, who worked in community and government relations for Baltimore County Schools, has pleaded guilty to a charge of filing a false income tax return, the news site Maryland Matters is reporting. The plea is related to an FBI probe of bribes that Barrett allegedly accepted. See details in the Maryland Matters story here. (I don’t want to give too much away, but he wore a wire for years!)
Prior to joining BCPS, Barrett was a top aide to then-County Executive Dutch Ruppersberger and later was named head of the county’s Department of Recreation and Parks by the next county executive, Jim Smith.
In 2001 The Baltimore Sun wrote about Barrett’s role in no-bid leases for county office buildings — leases that earned millions for a realtor who worked with — and split commissions with — Barrett’s wife, Debra. The Sun also has details about the recent plea deal.
This is another piece of negative news for BCPS, whose former superintendent, Dallas Dance, was recently indicted for failing to disclose outside income he earned — some of which was from entities who got no-bid contracts with BCPS. His successor, interim Superintendent Verletta White, also admitted she failed to disclose outside income, calling it an “honest mistake.” She has not been charged with any crime.
Superintendent Verletta White, also admitted she failed to disclose outside income, calling it an “honest mistake.”
BCPS House needs to be cleaned of people who failed to disclosed (honest mistake, or got caught in the midst of unethical practices) and leaders who allowed no bid contracts. No excuses, clean house and hold all to ethical practices NOW.