MIKLOCHIK ALLEGEDLY WROTE CHECKS TO HIMSELF
‘PUTTING THE MONEY TOWARDS HIS PERSONAL USE’
Could face 15 years in prison, $15,000 fine if convicted

 
A former State Highway Administration official was charged Wednesday in Baltimore City Circuit Court with felony theft in connection with a scheme whereby $23,000 was allegedly stolen from the state by writing bogus checks.

The ex-employee, Joseph Miklochik, 53, of Baltimore, was director of the SHA’s Office of Real Estate during 2009, when he is accused of having written checks to himself and “putting the money towards his personal use,” according to a statement released today by Atty. Gen. Douglas F. Gansler.

“After a co-worker discovered and voiced concerns about the depleted funds,” Gansler said in his prepared statement, “Miklochik repaid the money from a personal home equity loan.”

The theft allegedly occurred over a 10-month period between January and November 2009 when Miklochik was in charge of overseeing the operating account of the State Highway Administration’s Office of Real Estate’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference.

Arraignment is set for Nov. 1. If convicted, Miklochik could receive a maxiumum sentence of 15 years and a $15,000 fine.

The investigation was conducted by the Attorney General’s Criminal Division and the Maryland State Police.

— VoB Staff report