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State Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Dist. 25) of District Heights is currently missing $188,500 from his campaign account, the incumbent told state election officials.

As he filed his required campaign finance report Aug. 25, eight days after the report was due, Currie said he could not locate more than half of his funds.

"We only recently discovered these inconsistencies, which appear to be the result of the former treasurer's conduct," wrote Gregg L. Bernstein, Currie's attorney, in a letter the state board of elections received the same day the report was filed.

Olivia Harris of Upper Marlboro, who had served as Currie's campaign treasurer since he was elected to the Senate in 1994, could not be located. Currie had $312,000 in his account in January and has $89,820 today, according to records.

Currie declined to comment when reached by phone. His lawyer did not return a call for comment.

The 24-year Annapolis lawmaker is chairman of the Senate's Budget and Taxation Committee and has also been under federal investigation for two years after being paid more than $200,000 from the Shoppers Food Warehouse grocery store chain for consulting work — income he allegedly failed to disclose to the state ethics commission.

In his tax returns, Currie reported he was paid the money by the grocery chain from 2003 to 2007. Currie lobbied extensively to help the grocery store get a liquor license in College Park in 2005 and for traffic improvements for a proposed Shoppers in the Baltimore area in 2006, according to state documents.

Federal prosecutors convened a grand jury more than a year ago and have been calling witnesses since, but no indictments have been issued.

State Elections Board Director Jared DeMarinis, who runs the board's candidacy and campaign finance division, said Currie is doing his own investigation into the missing money.

"This agency will require a full accounting of funds," said DeMarinis, who said he did not know if the missing money will be investigated by law enforcement officials.

Under Maryland law, theft of more than $500 is considered a felony and can carry up to 15 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.

Currie owes $120 in penalties for filing his campaign finance report late but has asked the state to waive the penalty, according to the letter from his lawyer.

The candidate reported $1,050 in donations from January to August. He spent $34,472 during the same reporting period, including $20,000 for "legal fees on behalf of state prosecution," according to his campaign finance records. The senator also paid $6,648 from his campaign account in June for "legal fees related to Grand Jury Investigation for Olivia Harris."

Currie is running unopposed in the District 25 Senate primary on Sept. 14 and has no challenger in the Nov. 2 general election. He retains strong support from longtime ally and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach and other county leaders, who have said Currie should continue serving unless he is charged with a crime.