"Dual Posts Give Prince George's Official Oversight of Herself"
Post, November 20, 2005 (by Ovetta Wiggins, Washington Post Staff Writer)
The Prince George's County agency under scrutiny by the state prosecutor in a probe of questionable contracts has been run for the past 20 months by a department director who oversees her own work because she serves in two positions.
Pamela H. Piper, owner of a Riverdale Park computer company, was hired in May 2003 to head the county's Office of Central Services. The agency is responsible for purchasing, managing county buildings and vehicles, and awarding millions of dollars in contracts each year.
Piper is the daughter of County Executive Jack B. Johnson's fourth-grade teacher in South Carolina and a contributor to his 2002 campaign. She replaced Carolyn Scriber, a career county employee dismissed by Johnson (D).
[. . .]
Piper has not been accused of wrongdoing and has not responded to numerous requests for an interview. In an interview Thursday night, Johnson declined to answer questions about Central Services or Piper's deputy position.
Her dual responsibilities have become a source of concern for some county officials, especially as state prosecutor Robert A. Rohrbaugh's investigation continues.
[More]
"Businesses complain of bribe requests"
Gazette, November 10, 2005 (by Tiesha Higgins, Staff Writer)The corruption investigation of the Johnson administration has taken a new turn with sources in the business community complaining to The Gazette that individuals have been seeking payments or partial ownership in development projects to secure county contracts. [Full story]
"Prince George's Officials Appear Before Grand Jury; Grand Jury Investigates Alleged Kickbacks For Contracts"
nbc4.com, November 9, 2005
"Audit Questions Payments Made by Workforce Services Corporation"
wjla.com, November 8, 2005 (AP)
"Pr. George's Switches Job Firms After Audit"
The Life and Times, November 8, 2005 (by M.T. Brown)
How could this happen? . . .We need a fresh new start in the county. Crime is up in Prince Georges County and people have no respect for other citizens because officials are not enforcing the existing laws. We need to clean house and bring in fresh new leadership."Pr. George's Switches Job Firms After Audit; Deals With Contractors Questioned"
Post, November 8, 2005 (by Nick Anderson
Washington Post Staff Writer)
Prince George's County has shaken up the management of its federal jobs funding after the disclosure of fiscal lapses and questionable transactions in a corporation charged with running employment services, officials said yesterday. [. . .]Earlier:
The report's findings were referred to the state attorney general, and from there, to the Prince George's state's attorney's office for possible criminal investigation. A spokesman for State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey declined to comment. [Full story]
● Jack Johnson may be focus of kickback inquiry
● Prince George's Officials Called to Grand Jury (updated)
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