UPDATE: New felony theft charges for Joe Carlini

*UPDATE*

The two felony theft charges against Joseph Anthony Carlini are now posted on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database online.  It shows that the Worcester County State's Attorney's Office posted the Criminal Information on Friday, December 16th.  The latest entry, posted on Monday, December 19th, shows the State's Attorney's office filed a Request to Issue Summons.

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Original Post December 6, 2016

The Worcester County State's Attorney's Office confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Joseph Carlini is now the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the Maryland State Police.

We're told investigators are now prepared to charge Carlini with 2 counts of felony theft. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a 10-thousand dollar fine.

47 ABC spoke with Carlini over the phone shortly after receiving this new information, and he would not comment on the new charges.

The last time Joseph Carlini make headlines was about 10 months ago when he appeared in Worcester County Court for two charges of unlicensed contracting.

As part of a deal with the state he pleaded guilty to one of those charges.  The other was essentially placed on hold, on the stet docket.

Carlini spent 90-days in jail for violating his parole on a 2010 multi-million dollar theft scheme conviction in Montgomery County.

Because of the MSP criminal investigation, and the new felony theft charges, the Worcester county State's Attorney's office is now exploring the possibility of reactivating and prosecuting that unlicensed contracting charge, as well.

Over the past few weeks 47 abc has been talking to a number of Carlini's former employees, clients, business partners and their lawyers.  They accuse him of either scamming them out of money or not paying them what he owes.

47 abc is now working on an in-depth special report exploring these claims.
As for the MSP criminal investigation, the Worcester County State's Attorney's office tells 47 ABC they anticipate and expect additional charges for Carlini in the near future. But they would not comment any further, saying it would be inappropriate and could potentially jeopardize the integrity of that ongoing investigation and prosecution.

Also, Carlini is expected in court for a civil suit on January 4th.  A local restaurant owner claims Carlini failed to pay him for some restaurant equipment now being used at the Fat Fish Grill, which recently opened in Salisbury.