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Former Prince George's County Fire Official Pleads Guilty

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) -- A former Prince George's County fire department official is the latest person to face prison time as a result of a wide-ranging probe into corruption in the county.

Karl Granzow pleaded guilty in March to extortion conspiracy and tax evasion, and the plea was unsealed Monday. Federal prosecutors say he conspired with two developers to make illegal contributions to 10 political campaigns.

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 1/2 and three years in prison. No sentencing date has been scheduled.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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