Former MD Dept. Of Labor Employee Charged In COVID-19 Contract Scam

A former Maryland Department of Labor official has been charged in connection with an extensive fraud and bribery scheme involving COVID-19 cleaning contracts at agency facilities, according to prosecutors.

Ronald Van Price, 51, of Gwynn Oak, was indicted on charges including procurement fraud, bribery and perjury for his role in the scheme, Attorney General Anthony Brown said Thursday. Price is the former acting director of the Office of General Services for the Maryland Department of Labor.

Walter O’Riley Poindexter, 50, of Windsor Mill, was also charged with procurement fraud and bribery in connection with the scheme.

According to prosecutors, starting in February 2020, Price conspired with Poindexter and Mark Sykes to steer over $479,000 in COVID-related cleaning contracts to Poindexter’s company (P-Dex) and Sykes’ company (Building Enterprises LLC).

Prosecutors said the scheme involved manipulating the procurement process, circumventing standard rules and procedures, and concealing material conflicts of interest. In exchange for Price’s assistance, Poindexter and Sykes paid bribes to Price totaling at least $88,000.

In April 2025, Sykes, 51, of Randallstown, pleaded guilty to bribery in charges related to the scheme.

“This alleged scheme represents a brazen misuse of taxpayer dollars during a public health crisis when Marylanders needed their government most,” Brown said in a statement. “Our office will always hold accountable public officials who exploit their positions for personal gain and undermine the integrity of state service."

The cases have been charged in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. An arraignment date has not yet been for either defendant.