By Stephanie Samuel

Sentinel Staff Writer

The FBI searches of Prince George's County state Sen. Ulysses Currie's (D-Dist. 25) home and Shoppers Food and Pharmacy's Lanham headquarters turned up marijuana and several documents such as check stubs and contractor agreements proving Currie has received money from Shoppers.

Evidence logs recently released by the FBI showed that investigators found a check stub dated May 16, 2007 issued by Shoppers Food on Currie's dresser, along with a consulting agreement and several documents related to Shoppers in a bag. At the Shoppers Headquarters at 4600 Forbes Blvd., FBI investigators found a file folder with Currie's name on it. Contract agreements were reported to be inside.

The documents may prove damaging to Currie, who refused to answer media questions about his relationship with Shoppers or Parent company SuperValu May 29. However, spokesmen from Shoppers Food and Pharmacy said that he was an outside contractor.

The FBI search of Currie's home also turned up marijuana and packaging materials. Both officials from the FBI's Baltimore office and the U.S. State's attorney office have declined to discuss with The Sentinel what, if any, charges will result from the search.

Since the searches Maryland Republican Party Chairman James Pelura has called on Currie to resign his chairmanship of the Budget and Taxation Committee, saying, "It would be prudent ... at least until this situation is resolved."

Currie's Democratic colleagues have been quick to support him. Michael Cryor, Chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party praised Currie's 13-year-long record with the Senate and urged that judgment be reserved until after the FBI investigation has been completed.

"We would be wise to reserve judgment on any man or woman with such a track record until all the facts are in and the scrutiny has run its course," Cryor said in a press release.

Currie, 70, was elected to the state Senate to represent Prince George's County in 1994. In 1995, Currie became a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee. He was been chairman of the committee since 2002.

Contact Stephanie Samuel at

ssamuel@thesentinel.com