WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. - Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr. announced on Friday that the county has received a $250,000 insurance settlement check as a result of a claim filed following the theft of fuel and other items from the Wicomico County Landfill.

The thefts occurred between 2005 and 2008 and the total value of stolen materials was estimated to be as high as $400,000, according to a forensic auditor's report.

According to county officials, immediately following the exposure of the burglary ring that stole from the landfill and the size of the loss involved, Executive Pollitt vowed that he would explore all available avenues to recover the taxpayer's loss.

Wicomico County officials say one of these was an aggressive pursuit of an insurance settlement and the payment just received is the result of this.

"I am very pleased at the efforts of County Attorney Edgar A. Baker, Jr. His tireless work with our insurance company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, produced the biggest payment allowable under the terms of our policy," says Pollitt.

In addition to the insurance settlement, Ray Lewis, the convicted leader of the burglary ring, has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $150,000. The three other convicted members have been ordered to pay a total of $18,500.

"While I am glad that our taxpayer's loss is being cut to a minimum, I am well aware that no amount of money can restore the public confidence lost by this felony. The only way that can happen is that I make sure that this never happens again at the landfill or at any county agency where I have authority. I have taken, and shall continue to take, every step to assure the citizens of Wicomico County of this," Pollitt says.