Annapolis Man Faces Charges Filed in Connection with No-Show School Assembly Appearances

An Annapolis man who reportedly promised several schools in Anne Arundel County appearances by famous athletes and did not come through is now facing charges in Queen Anne’s County, WMAR-TV reports. 

The Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Joseph Gill. Deputy Dale Patrick, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said via email that those charges, which include two counts of theft under $1,000 and one count of theft scheme $1,000 to $10,000, were applied for and issued on Oct. 12. Gill has been profiled on the sheriff’s office’s most wanted list, Patrick said in the email.

Patrick said Cpl. Shane Russell met with State's Attorney Lance Richardson about the case and as a result, the charges were filed.

According to the report from WMAR's Joce Sterman, the Queen Anne’s County sheriff’s office is the first to file charges against Joseph Gill in connection with these recently reported incidents.

WMAR spoke with Annette DiMaggio, PTA president at Sudlersville High school, who said that Gill called the day before Ladarius Webb was expected to speak at a school assembly to say that he couldn’t make it.

Back in October, Patch first reported that 17 schools in Anne Arundel County were out roughly $14,000 after school officials said Gill, who owned Odyssey Group LLC, .

Patch also reported that Gill , citing a 2007 report from WPXI in which a PTA president in the Bethlehem Center school district in Pennsylvania said Gill couldn’t be reached after he booked former Pittsburgh Steeler John Banaszak to speak at the school and the player didn’t show up.

Calls to Gill were not immediately returned as of press time.

According to Patrick, Gill no longer lives on Sharps Road and is believed to be using rental cars, and the last known one was a red Nissan Versa.