September, 2008 raid
More STATter911.com coverage of Karl Granzow Jr.
More details from The Washington Post.
When Lt. Col. Karl Granzow Jr.'s office at the headquarters of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department in Largo, Maryland was raided by the FBI in September, 2008 we were lead to believe two things by various sources: this was connected to a development project known as Greenbelt Station (which at one time was to include a fire station); the raids were just a stopping off point on the trail that would bring about the downfall of Prince Georges' County Executive Jack Johnson.
Today, almost three years later, comes word that Karl Granzow entered guilty pleas in March as part of the same corruption probe that resulted in Johnson's arrest. Granzow retired from PGFD in April, 2009.
From Andrea Noble, The Washington Times:
The guilty plea of a retired Prince George’s County fire official was unsealed Monday in federal court, linking him to the large-scale corruption probe that has taken down developers, public officials and police officers in the county over the last several months.
Karl Granzow, 46, pleaded guilty in secret to conspiring to commit extortion and to income tax evasion on March 11. Mr. Granzow, a former lieutenant colonel in the county fire department, admitted in his guilty plea to partnering with county developers for more than 10 years to bribe public officials for development favors related to the Greenbelt Station development project.
From Lizz Essley, The Washington Examiner:
Granzow, who was an official responsible for the fire department's Management Services Command at the time of the briberies, had ownership interests in Greenbelt Metropark, a company trying to build a mixed-use project near the Greenbelt Metro Station.
For more than 10 years, Granzow and co-conspirators offered state and local officials money, meals, drinks, trip expenses, campaign contributions, hotel rooms, airline tickets and more in exchange for rulings that would favor their development projects, according to Granzow's guilty plea filed under seal on March 30.
From the AP:
He also admitted bribing public officials in exchange for acts that benefited a development near the Greenbelt Metro station. Granzow’s co-conspirators, developers Patrick Ricker and Daniel Colton, have also pleaded guilty. Their pleas were unsealed after former County Executive Jack Johnson pleaded guilty to corruption.
Federal sentencing guidelines call for Granzow to receive between 2 ½ and three years in prison. No sentencing date has been scheduled.
Also on STATter911 …
- Former PGFD Lt. Col. Karl Granzow Jr. gets 18 months in prison. He was part of corruption scheme that brought down County Executive Jack Johnson. – October 3, 2012
- Fatal home response gets former OH volunteer firefighter 9 months. Vehicular manslaughter max sentence for Timothy Johnson. – September 25, 2012
- Prince George’s County, MD police officer killed on I-95 after spotting theft suspects. PGFD audio of incident. – August 20, 2012
- Early raw video: Two-alarm apartment fire in Washington, DC. Another city leader takes a fall in the Nation’s Capital, but the fires keep getting put out. – June 6, 2012
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
Gee, developer B surfaces. Wonder how long it will be before civil suits come out from those that he screwed over within the fire department over the many, many years. I'll get in on the class action suit.
Senior must be turning over in his grave. Poor soul.
My 2 cents from Calif.
"Retired" Lt. Col. at age 46? Must have really been someone's "Fairhaired Person".
If he's found to have done with what he's charged with I'm certain he'll make a Good Cell mate("Cellie") with Good 'ol Jerry Engle.
From the Top to the Bottom of this FD, it appears their have been some "Bad Apples". Too Bad, because their undoubtly some are Really Good People whitin the Organization who don't need to be "Smeared' because of their "Un-ethical Actions".
He should have got the maximum penalty. Oh, I hate Plea Deal's.
Now, I can congratulate you on your retirement Karl.
As the corruption probe goes on, I hope the don't stop at the Johnson administration. This pos was involved in funny politics under Curry's helm. The way things are going they may need to build a few more cells. How about the old Landover Mall site? May what to check into that as well.
Karl , one bad apple from the DeMatha Catholic High School class of 1982.
Will Mr. Granzow's 6 figure per year pension from the Citizens of Prince George's County and Maryland go to cover the cost that We, The Taxpayers have paid for. The investigation, probe, federal legal fees and of course, the future cost to house Mr. Granzow for however many of the 10 years he serves? Also, remember another person has been mentioned in the past during this probe. That shoe hasn't fallen…yet. He is a former member of the Prince George's County Council, School Board and oh yes, so he could get another 2 years in (of so called service to the people) but actually to round out 20 years and increase his County and State pension, Jack Johnson's County Executive staff. (Where he did nothing).
I am truly saddened by the actions of all the parties involved and now we must work harder, struggle and bring back the credibility and respect to our community that it deserves.
So, if Granzow was bribing his way through his career (at least 10 years), will he lose his retirement benefits? Can't hardly see that he deserves them.
Karma is a bitch Karl. I'm getting pure joy from reading this and hope he gets the max.
Even his Dad knew he was crooked. Anonymous is right. Bribing his way (at least 10 yrs) ~ he SHOULD lose his retirement pension. Apparently there is no precedent for this. So much for "ethical" behavior. Wasn't he retired after a TWO month vacation? Wherein "guys on the job" fight for leave? Then a full pension? WTF!!!!
Hey ukfbbuf,
He got that sweet deal under the former administration. Played on his election campaign and guess what, promoted to Lt. Col over night. Rumered to be apointed Fire Chief too, but a little "hide and go seak" with the feds took care of that. Ain't politics grand!!!!.
Justice is served and it's a sad day for Prince George's County. Baker and Bashoor have their work cut out for them to bring this department back to the place it deserves to be. The fire department was a tool for political gain and no commitment has been made to serve the citizens since Glendenning was County Exec. Let the Chief be the Chief and let the stars of the department do their jobs.
It is most critical now for everyone to stop take a step back and rebuild the once Proud Tradition and Professionalism of PG Fire and EMS. What a shameful and disgraceful situation Mr. Granzow has allowed himself to be a part . I read some of the comments he's well Educated Graduating from Dematha High School. For whatever reasons/excuses Mr. Granzow may have thought were his opening doors to Career success he acted without any respectable work ethic. His ambitions apparently overtook his Professional Career and Professional Endeavors. This has developed/not matured into an inexcusable unacceptable situation of crooked High Profile Professionals. Getting involved with Tax Evasion and Extortion. Jack Johnson, his Wife, Karl Granzow, a former PG Police Sergeant selling and distributing illegal Cigarettes, "WHERE WAS THE MANAGEMENT and OVERSIGHT of PUBLIC SAFETY"? First Line Response Apparatus with 2-Staffing on Structure Fires. "Who was minding the Store"? OK now that the Truth has been told and the fallout has brought about Judicial Intervention The individuals who took Prince Georg'e's County down, are going to pay the price. Now is time for everyone Public Servant/ie;Public Safety, Taxpayers and the clean up Politicans who will have to undertake the Task of rebuiding and Reassurring the Citizens of Prince George's County they have a good hard working complement of Dedicated Professionals at all Levels ready in place to protect the interests and and serve the residents of Prince George's County. OOps almost forgot there is Jerry Engle a convicted Arsonist who single handed took down the PG Fire and EMS without callous disregard for Human Life. The very Core Values of the Fire and EMS Service Principles. "Firefighter Safety, Everyone Goes Home" This corrupt Group of worthless Do Nothing Weasels are real Dirt Bags in the Truest Sense.
Thank You
"WHERE WAS THE MANAGEMENT and OVERSIGHT of PUBLIC SAFETY" and "Who was minding the store" you ask? Why not ask Wayne (Curry) and Fred (Thomas) about that when this mess first started?
Hard to believe! How many others in the PGFD have been crooked? as we all know several climbed the "ladder" – no pun intended! way too fast.. Maybe Karl can deliver newspapers again.
put his sleasy ass in jail already!!!!
Sentencing is October 3, 2012 in Greenbelt at 10am