The former general manager of the Baltimore Blast admitted Thursday to stealing from the professional soccer team and paid $100,000 in restitution, but a Baltimore County Circuit Court judge sentenced him to probation rather than time in prison as the Blast owner urged.
“It almost killed my team,” owner Ed Hale said in a sharply worded victim’s impact statement in court, punctuated by occasional outbursts from a crowd in the courtroom that included Blast fans, family members and other supporters. “This guy almost took us down.
“If he gets away with this, crime does pay for sure.”
Gianni Tumminello, 49, of Nottingham, pleaded guilty to one count of theft for between $25,000 and $100,000. Judge Andrew M. Battista sentenced him to the maximum of 10 years, but with all of the time suspended and three years of probation.
The appearance of Hale, a well-known and blunt-speaking banking, shipping, real estate and trucking magnate who bought the Blast in 1989, nearly filled the small courtroom in Towson. A spectator called out, “Go get ’em, Ed,” when he rose for his victim’s statement.
Hale, the founder and former CEO of First Mariner Bank, told the judge he’s had tens of thousands of employees over the years, and noted his service in the Air Force and — as detailed in a 2014 book written by former Baltimore Sun columnist Kevin Cowherd, “Hale Storm” — covert work for the Central Intelligence Agency.
“I’ve never had a worse employee,” said Hale, the developer of such properties as Canton Crossing. “He’s a liar, grifter and forger.”
Tumminello, who previously worked as a DJ and in group sales for the Blast, became their general manager in December 2019 and resigned in April 2023.
Just one month before he resigned, Tumminello did an interview on Zoom with PressBox founder Stan “The Fan” Charles, in which he gave no indication anything was amiss. Tumminello spoke of being a Blast fan since the team came to town in 1980, expressed pride at the size of the crowds attending the games — which were played at SECU Arena in Towson after years at what is now CFG Arena in downtown Baltimore — and spoke positively about “the boss.”
“We’re very fortunate to have him taking care of us,” Tumminello said.
“He hates to lose.”
In August 2023, Tumminello was charged with six counts of theft from the team.
Hale said Tumminello was stealing from him as he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in February 2023 and as he recovered.
“He dropped me off at the hospital,” Hale said. “He goes back to the office and starts to write checks.”
Despite the financial hit he took from the thefts, Hale remains committed to the team.
“I love the sport, I love the players,” he said. “I love the interaction with the fans.”
Tumminello spoke only briefly in court, apologizing to his family, Blast fans and directly to Hale, who shook his head and seemed to snort derisively.
Tumminello’s attorney, Dennis Cuomo, said his client was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, as well as post-traumatic stress syndrome, the latter partially coming as a result of working for Hale.
“There was a great deal of bullying that took place,” Cuomo said of Hale’s treatment of Tumminello.
The attorney said Tumminello, who has had in- and outpatient mental health treatment, was given no training for the GM position, felt in over his head and eventually quit.
While the sentence and restitution settled the criminal case, still in dispute is how much Tumminello stole from the team, which ended its 2023-2024 season on March 30. Hale said it totaled about $520,000, via forged checks, Venmo and PayPal transfers and other means.
Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Lippe, who prosecuted the case, said the charges were based on a police estimate of $173,000 that was stolen, while Cuomo said it was between $64,000 to $89,000.
Hale said some of the stolen money was given to some players, above their regular salaries, while Cuomo characterized those payments as part of the housing allowances some of the athletes receive.
“I have no real accounting of anything,” Battista said, noting the numbers were “all over the board.”
In determining the sentence, Battista said the $100,000 in restitution was what attorneys agreed to, and the amount of the check that Tumminello brought to court. The judge also noted that he wouldn’t take into account a number of past unrelated accusations against Tumminello that Hale raised, and that Cuomo had objected to.
Battista said he gave Hale latitude to “say his piece” as the victim in the case, but he couldn’t hold “mini-trials” on each of the accusations.
Cuomo said he advised Tumminello not to comment. Cuomo and Lippe both called the sentence fair, a sentiment not shared by Hale.
“I would have liked to see him go to jail,” he said outside the courthouse.
Hale said the Blast is a business, but close to his heart. He noted that even when the Blast lose money, they remain the team whose games his late mother loved to attend.
“This is very personal,” Hale said. “It’s personal to the extent that I lose money, but I love it.”