Ex-Md. Senator Accused of Corruption, Fraud

But what really made Bromwell a force in the Senate was his instinctive ability to figure out just what it would take to sway another lawmaker, former colleagues said. He also was a risk-taker. In December 2000, Bromwell tried to overthrow Miller by organizing an unexpected coalition of Republican and African American lawmakers behind him. He failed, but he emerged still at the helm of his committee -- a feat that was widely seen as a testament to his political acumen and his survival skills.

Miller said yesterday that he was "in a state of shock" about the indictment. "Speaking on behalf of the Senate, we hope this matter is resolved expeditiously and as favorably to the Bromwells as it possibly can be," Miller said.

Authorities moved yesterday to seize Bromwell's assets and freeze his accounts.

Toward the end of his Senate term, Bromwell was handling large sums of cash, the indictment says. He once gave an associate $20,000 in cash to avoid paying taxes, it says.

In 2002, when he finally left the Senate, Bromwell took a job as head of the state's Injured Workers' Insurance Fund, a position to which he was appointed by then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D). Glendening could not be reached yesterday.

Two years earlier, when Bromwell announced that he would not let go of the reins of power to take the sedate but more lucrative insurance job, he said he expected his work in the Senate to be more satisfying.

"You know," he said at the time, "money isn't everything."

Staff writer Matthew Mosk contributed to this report.