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Probe: Currie's ties to developer strong

By Tom LoBianco (Contact) | Tuesday, July 22, 2008

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The federal investigation into state Sen. Ulysses S. Currie extends beyond his consulting work for Shoppers Food Warehouse to include one of Prince George's County's most powerful developers and his $3.7 billion Westphalia project in Capitol Heights, according to documents recently released by the state.

The documents show investigators subpoenaed e-mails, call logs and letters from the Maryland State Highway Administration related to Mr. Currie's interest in developer Kenneth H. Michael's Westphalia project - the second-biggest in Prince George's after the new $4 billion National Harbor project.

Mr. Currie, a Prince George's Democrat under investigation for his undisclosed work on behalf of Shoppers Food Warehouse, inquired frequently on the status of road improvements near the Westphalia project and three other road projects leading to developments run by the Michael Cos., the documents also show.

According to an October 2006 facsimile, Mr. Currie alerted Mr. Michael that state highway Administrator Neil J. Pedersen raised concerns about the Westphalia development.

Mr. Currie, 70, faxed a copy of the letter to Mr. Michael, noting: "FYI and possible meeting on the attached issue."

In Mr. Pedersen's letter, he expressed concern to Prince George's officials about the Westphalia project overloading Maryland Route 4, which runs through the area, and asked them to consider improvements to other, nearbycounty roads.

"I am concerned about the potential profound effects that proposed changes in the plan may have on the state highway system and request your immediate assistance to address our concerns," Mr. Pedersen said in the Oct. 3, 2006, letter - which went to County Executive Jack B. Johnson and County Council Chairman Samuel H. Dean, both Democrats, and Samuel J. Parker Jr., chairman of the Prince George's County Planning Board.

Mr. Pedersen sent copies to Mr. Currie, in whose district the Westphalia project is being built, and other state highway officials, but did not include developers. Mr. Michael was scheduled to meet Nov. 14, 2007, with state transportation Secretary John D. Porcari in part to discuss the Westphalia project, according to an e-mail exchange between state highway staffers.

The state plans to widen Maryland Route 4 and build a flyover at the intersection of Suitland Parkway, at an estimated cost of $116 million to $126 million, a highway spokesman said. Mr. Pedersen has said he was contacted by the FBI, but will not discuss the interview.

FBI agents raided Mr. Currie's District Heights home May 29, the same day it raided the corporate headquarters of Shoppers in Lanham. Agents took records relating to Mr. Currie's consulting work for the grocery chain, according to FBI evidence recovery logs.