Lawsuit: Ex-Maryland State Police Trainee Fired for Marriage

PIKESVILLE, Md. (AP) — A former Maryland State Police trainee has filed a lawsuit alleging she was fired because she married her boyfriend, a former Secret Service agent who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.

The Daily Record reports (http://bit.ly/29T1l6P) Ariana Esposito was training at the police academy in early 2015 when her boyfriend, Shaun Bridges, was charged in California with stealing $800,000 in bitcoins.

Maryland State Police forbids employees associating with convicted felons. However, the lawsuit says Lt. Daniel Fairburn wrote in an email to Esposito that if she married Bridges, an exception would likely be made for her.

Bridges and Esposito married on April 12, 2015. On April 18, she notified the state of her marital status.

One month later, Esposito was terminated for "failing to disclose her marriage." The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Maryland State Police declined to comment.

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