The FBI seized financial records, business cards and personal planners from the home of state Sen. Ulysses Currie, as well as documents from Shoppers Food & Pharmacy related to projects in the state during what appears to be coordinated raids last week, according to court filings.
In evidence recovery logs released by federal prosecutors, FBI agents also noted that marijuana and drug packaging materials were taken from a room in Currie's home in District Heights.
Currie, a Prince George's County Democrat, has been an outside consultant for Shoppers, according to the grocery store chain's parent company, Supervalu Inc. News of the federal probe broke May 29 when FBI agents searched Currie's home and the Shoppers headquarters in Lanham. A Supervalu spokeswoman confirmed that authorities are working on an investigation related to one of its service providers, identified as Currie.
Neither Currie nor his lawyer Dale Kelberman returned phone calls seeking comment yesterday.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, whose district also includes Prince George's County, said he spoke yesterday with Currie who said he was "embarrassed" that marijuana was found in his home. Currie lives with his wife, a preacher, and his teenage son. "He definitely told me it wasn't his, and he was shocked to learn about it," Miller said.
FBI spokesman Richard Wolf said yesterday that the investigation is continuing. As for the seizure of drugs, Wolf said: "I don't believe at this time that charges have been filed."
The evidence logs provide the first insight into what investigators are seeking. Another grand jury subpoena was served on the Department of Legislative Services, seeking records in General Assembly offices.
Some items seized from Currie's home include Merrill Lynch and bank statements, phone bills, a consulting agreement with Shoppers dated from December 2007 and tax information from the past six years.
Among the business cards listed on the evidence log were two from Giant Food Inc. Barry Scher, a lobbyist for the grocery chain in Annapolis, said that he has known Currie for years and that one of the cards could have been his. Scher said that he has been interviewed by the FBI but added: "I am not a target of the investigation, I can assure you of that."
