Eastern District of Michigan

DETROIT – A federal inmate with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), was sentenced to 18 months in prison today for offering bribes to a corrections officer, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by William J. Hannah, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General.

Robert Bibbs, 28, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of offering bribes to a public official before United States District Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey. Federal law classifies corrections officers as public officials.

According to court documents, between April 2023 and November 2023, Bibbs became acquainted with a corrections officer (identified in the plea agreement as CO-1) while he was an inmate at the Milan, Michigan Federal Correctional Institution (FCI Milan). During this time, Bibbs asked CO-1 to purchase pouches of loose tobacco and smuggle them into the prison for him. Bibbs requested these items so he could sell the tobacco in prison at a significant profit. In September 2023, CO-1 also purchased a gold necklace which she secretly brought into the prison and gave to Bibbs. Both the tobacco and the necklace are considered contraband within FCI Milan. Contraband is defined as prohibited materials which can reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or adversely affect the security, safety, or good order of the institution. Bibbs offered to pay CO-1 for smuggling contraband into the prison for him.

United States Attorney Ison stated, “Our justice system cannot function properly if our prisons are not safe and secure. Inmates who engage in this type of prohibited conduct endanger the safety of everyone inside the prison. We will address crime wherever it happens.”

“Contraband items such as jewelry and tobacco are used as a currency within federal prisons, which undermines the safety and security of institutions,” said William J. Hannah, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General Midwestern Region. “Today’s sentencing shows that inmates who seek to bribe Correctional Officers to introduce contraband into federal prisons will be held accountable.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eaton P. Brown. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Justice-Office of Inspector General

DETROIT – United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced her resignation today, effective January 19, 2025.

“Capping my years-long public service to the Eastern District of Michigan as the United States Attorney will forever serve as the crowning point of my career,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison.  “I want to express my sincere appreciation to President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland for the opportunity to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this District. I am also extremely grateful for the confidence U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters had in me to carry out this charge. With the extraordinary talent at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished to reduce violent crime, empower communities through transparency and engagement, and protect the civil rights of all within our borders. We have collaborated with purpose, used innovative and evidence-based strategies to operate under the principles of focus, balance, and fairness in our work, and effectively included community stakeholders as partners in our efforts. It is through this shared responsibility for safety that we have accomplished so much. And so it is my hope as I prepare to leave this office, that this work—this partnership—will continue.”

Ms. Ison was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on November 12, 2021, and confirmed by the Senate on December 14, 2021. She was sworn in as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Eastern District of Michigan on December 21, 2021.

Under Ms. Ison’s leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan worked to rebuild community trust in law enforcement, restructure the office’s approach to violent crime, and reinvigorate the office’s civil rights practice.

Rebuilding Community Trust

Under Ms. Ison’s leadership the office engaged in outreach to communities across the District. This community engagement included communities at risk of discrimination or hate crimes, communities experiencing disproportionate rates of violence, and returning citizens.  That engagement also included transparency about the office’s work and enforcement efforts, educational programming, prevention efforts, and listening sessions to understand the specific concerns and needs of the various diverse communities within the District.

“I sincerely hope that any legacy I leave includes empowering communities to know that they deserve to live in peaceful neighborhoods, free of violence, hate, and other threats and that they are partners in this effort to achieve public safety for all,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.

Restructuring Approach to Violent Crime

Ms. Ison prioritized lowering the rate of violent crime in the district which resulted in a restructuring   of the office’s approach to violent crime. In 2023, the office formalized its violence reduction strategy: One Eastern District of Michigan or One EDMI. The initiative is designed to identify evidence-based strategies that have proven effective in reducing violent crime and bringing together a coalition of community, government, and law enforcement stakeholders to implement those strategies. One EDMI is a vision for the District that aims to empower local communities to use those tools they believe will be the most effective in their area, rather than apply the same practices to every situation or location.

Under Ms. Ison’s leadership, and as a part of the One EDMI partnership, the office relied on evidence-based strategies and partnered with stakeholders in the community, government, and law enforcement to lower the rate of violent crime. As a result, Assistant United States Attorneys were able to focus their efforts on the true drivers of violence–the people, groups, and places most likely to be engaged in violent crime. The office’s efforts coalesced around three principles: focus, balance, and fairness, with the goal of balancing law enforcement strategies with prevention and outreach to deter future violence. The office also committed to being transparent about its work and its outcomes so that the community would commit to this effort with a renewed confidence in the fairness of our approach.

In April 2023, the office announced the creation of the first One EDMI subgroup, One Detroit. The United States Attorney’s Office joined with a broad coalition of law enforcement, government, community, and faith partners to create One Detroit. The One Detroit partners committed to reducing violence while fostering legitimacy through engagement, coordination, and action.

In addition to revamping the enforcement strategy, Ms. Ison and the One Detroit partners focused on crime prevention. One Detroit’s prevention efforts brought Peacenics to Detroit’s 8th and 9th Precincts over the last three summers. The Peacenics are a collective gathering of the community and law enforcement coming together in the name of peace and where residents can have fun, engage with law enforcement, and obtain resources to improve the quality of their lives. The Peacenics featured vendors offering a variety of resources including job training, literacy programs, mental health and medical screenings, utility assistance, educational and vocational opportunities, tutorial and career development programs, expungement assistance, and more.

One Detroit’s reentry pillar focused on engaging with justice-impacted residents through community roundtables.  The roundtables are made up of people who are currently on federal supervised release or state court probation who have been identified by the United States Probation Department and the Michigan Department of Corrections as being at moderate or severe risk of committing violent crimes. More than 200 justice-impacted residents have been served through the community roundtables so far.

One Detroit’s efforts have been successful. Violent crime in Detroit has plummeted to historic lows. Detroit ended 2024 with 203 criminal homicides, a 19% drop from 2023, and the fewest number of homicides since 1965.  As a result, the One Detroit Violence Reduction Partnership was recognized as a national model by the Department of Justice.

The U.S. Attorney’s office has implemented elements of the violence reduction strategy across the Eastern District of Michigan, focusing its enforcement efforts on the drivers of violence.  Those efforts have resulted in significant reductions in violent crime in Jackson and Pontiac.  The prevention and reentry strategies have also been deployed elsewhere in the Eastern District of Michigan as Flint hosted its first community roundtable for justice-impacted residents in November 2024.

Protecting Civil Rights

Protecting civil rights has long been a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Department of Justice. Similarly, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has a long history of engaging in robust civil rights enforcement efforts. But under Ms. Ison’s leadership, the office redoubled its efforts. In addition to the office’s Civil Rights Unit, which is responsible for pursing civil enforcement actions, she formed the new Public Corruption and Civil Rights Unit to emphasize our commitment to prosecuting criminal civil rights cases. Ms. Ison paired these vigorous prosecutions with robust community engagement. During Ms. Ison’s tenure, the United States Attorney’s office has trained more than 800 community members how to identify, report, and help prevent hate crimes in 10 events across the District as part of DOJ’s United Against Hate Initiative.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also handled several significant civil rights matters under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Ison. Those matters include:

Prosecuting Traditional Federal Crimes

Under Ms. Ison’s leadership, the office also focused on rooting out public corruption, combatting white collar crime, including pandemic-related fraud, and protecting the District’s citizens. Significant accomplishments in those areas include:

• The Mayor of Inkster was indicted and later pleaded guilty to bribery charges.
• The Mayor of Taylor was sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison for conspiracy to receive bribes and wire fraud.
• The President of the Madison Heights School Board pleaded guilty to bribery and tax evasion charges and was sentenced to almost 4 years in prison.
• A guilty plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges from the former Chief Financial Officer of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy for embezzling more than $40 million from the nonprofit. The plea also included a restitution agreement requiring him to pay no less than $44.3 million in restitution because of his conduct.
• The office has charged 127 individuals with participating in pandemic fraud schemes, ranging from unemployment insurance fraud conspiracies to fraud in pandemic loan programs. Of the individuals charged in such cases, the United States has thus far obtained more than 81 convictions.
• FCA US LLC (now known as Stellantis) paid a $300 million fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States as part of a scheme to cheat U.S. regulators and customers by making false and misleading representations about its emissions control systems on diesel vehicles.   
• A conviction at trial against an ISIS fighter who left his home in Michigan and travelled to Yemen and Syria where he obtained ISIS training and spent more than 2 years as an ISIS soldier.
• The U.S. Attorney’s Office under Ms. Ison’s leadership has also protected the federal treasury by successfully defending lawsuits brought against the United States and collecting dollars that were owed to the United States.  The office has collected more than $400 million in criminal and civil actions in judgments, fines, restitution, and forfeiture. These funds were returned to victims and taxpayers and represent more than four times the office’s operating budget over the last three years.

Ms.  Ison became U.S. Attorney after serving as an Assistant United States Attorney for 19 years.   In addition to being United States Attorney, Ms. Ison also served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, advising the Attorney General on policy, procedure, and management impacting U.S. Attorney’s Offices.

Prior to becoming United States Attorney, Ms. Ison served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Public Corruption Unit, the Drug Task Force, and the General Crimes Units.  She also served for four years as the Chief of the Drug Task Force. Prior to her government service, Ms. Ison spent twelve years in private practice as criminal defense attorney.   U.S. Attorney Ison has not announced her future plans.

Under the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant United States Attorney, Julie A. Beck will become the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan until a successor for U.S. Attorney Ison is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws, protecting civil rights, and representing the federal government in civil litigation in 34 counties in the Eastern District of Michigan. The Office currently has approximately 120 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and approximately 90 staff members at offices in Detroit, Flint, and Bay City. 

DETROIT – Three members of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation (“AVLN”) were sentenced in federal court this week after a jury convicted them of RICO conspiracy, murder, drug trafficking, and weapons charges on April 23 of this year, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Evidence presented at trial, before United States District Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey,  proved the Almighty Vice Lord Nation (AVLN) was a vast criminal enterprise which committed acts of violence, drug trafficking, weapons offenses, and other crimes across the country. The AVLN are divided into different branches, each with their own leadership that answers to a “board” in Chicago. The trial involved members of the Traveling Vice Lords in Detroit, Michigan. The jury convicted:

•          Terry Douglas, 44, of Detroit, who held the title of “Chief” and was the Michigan leader of the Traveling Vice Lords. Douglas was sentenced to 60 years in prison.

•          Schuyler Belew, 31, of Detroit, who held the title of “Universal Elite” and was the Detroit leader of the Traveling Vice Lords. Belew was sentenced to 60 years in prison.

•          Devun Baskerville, 34, of Detroit, who held the title of “Chief Enforcer” for the Traveling Vice Lords. Baskerville was sentenced to 70 years in prison.

The evidence at trial showed that these members of the AVLN worked together to further the AVLN, which involved AVLN members committing racketeering acts such as murder, narcotics trafficking, and witness intimidation. The jury heard testimony concerning a brazen shooting that took place in broad daylight at a Detroit park. In that shooting, Baskerville, acting upon orders from Douglas and Belew, murdered an individual suspected of cooperating with law enforcement and attempted to murder his girlfriend when he shot several times into her vehicle as she tried to flee. Also in the vehicle were her two young children, who miraculously, were not harmed. The girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time, suffered gunshot wounds but survived. 

The jury also convicted Lawon Carter of drug trafficking and weapons offenses. Carter’s sentencing is set for April 28, 2025.

“The sentences handed down in this case should send a clear message to violent offenders who terrorize our neighborhoods: we won’t stop until you are brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ison.  “It is my sincere hope that these sentences bring some closure to the victim’s family.”

“The sentencing of three more members of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation (AVLN) is proof that ATF and its partners have zero tolerance for gang members who use illegal firearms to intimidate and murder our community members.   This case was a complete reckoning of this gang and should serve as a wake-up call for gang members across Michigan. These three defendants represent the worst of the worst in our community. Greed bought them a one-way ticket straight into federal prison. It should be common knowledge throughout Michigan: violent gang activity will not be tolerated and will be disrupted; if you pack an illegal firearm to threaten and intimidate people in our community – pack a bag. You’re going to go to federal prison,” said, Special Agent in Charge James Deir.

This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Also instrumental in the investigation and prosecution of this case was the Detroit Police Department, and the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) investigation staff. 

DETROIT – Cortez Blake, 23, of Detroit was sentenced to 16 years and 6 months in federal prison yesterday following a conviction for federal kidnapping, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announced by Special Agent in Charge James M. Deir of the ATF in Michigan.

Cortez Blake was found guilty of kidnapping on August 12, 2024, after a jury trial. In total seven people were charged with conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping from this incident. Five people have been convicted. Blake and Nasir Lewis, 24, were convicted of kidnapping at trial, while Maijah Greene, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap; and Shatonnia Kimbrough, 21, pleaded guilty to kidnapping. The trial of a sixth individual, Semaj Ayers, remains pending. The final defendant, Karamoh Turner, was acquitted at trial.

Two additional people were convicted of the carjacking that precipitated the kidnapping. Jamar Lee-Stinson pleaded guilty to carjacking and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 11 and a half years in prison in May 2024. Amiaya Bryant also pleaded guilty to carjacking and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in June 2024.

During the trial, the evidence established that the defendants worked with others to kidnap and beat their victim. The kidnappers wrongly believed the victim took part in a carjacking and the kidnapping was to retaliate and extract information from the victim. According to the testimony, a group of armed men took the victim from a local business. The kidnappers first drove the victim to an empty lot in Detroit where the victim was beaten. The kidnappers then took the victim to a residence controlled by Blake, where the victim was held at gunpoint and beaten intermittently for hours. Finally, the victim was abandoned miles away on the roadside.

At trial, the evidence further established that the victim was held against her will at gunpoint in a house in Detroit where she was physically beaten. This was done in part to get information from her. Cellphones were used to recruit and direct others to join the kidnapping of the victim. Cortez Blake intentionally assisted in the kidnapping by participating in the beating and interrogation of the victim.

“Street justice cannot take place in this community. This sentence sends the first message in this case, and beyond, that one alleged wrong cannot justify retribution. This senseless cycle of violence will not be tolerated, and my office will continue to hold those who engage in violence, even if in the name of vengeance, accountable no matter the circumstances,” said U.S. Attorney Ison.

"This sentence is proof that ATF Detroit and its state and local partners have zero tolerance for anyone who chooses to use an illegal firearm to retaliate, intimidate, and/or harm a member of our community.  Cortez Blake’s actions are reprehensible.  He and his partners-in-crime kidnapped and beat a Detroit community member with an illegal firearm.  Blake is a common-day coward who puts gang membership and nonsensical gang loyalty above everything else, including his humanity.  In my experience,” said Special Agent in Charge James Deir, “Blake is an ATF posterchild of the type of thug ATF is laser-focused on identifying, prosecuting, and ultimately removing from our community.  As such, he is the most deserving candidate for federal prosecution and Detroit is safer with him not in the city any longer.”

The United States Attorney’s Office and the ATF are focused on prosecuting those individuals who are using firearms to commit violent acts against people in the Eastern District of Michigan. The strategy is a part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN continues to be the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  PSN is an evidence-based program that focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to pursue lasting reductions in crime.

These charges are just some of the tangible results of this joint effort.  The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to reduce violence in our communities.  Along with ATF, this case has been investigated with the assistance of the Office of Inspector General – U.S. Department of Labor, the United States Marshals Service, the Detroit Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit, and the Michigan Department of Corrections.

A Michigan man pleaded guilty today to one count of committing a hate crime by attempting to carry out a mass killing.

According to court documents, Mack Davis, 22, of Owosso, admitted that he attempted to conduct a mass killing of individuals at a political party headquarters and a nearby bar in the Eastern District of Michigan because he associated both locations with gay people.

“This defendant amassed an arsenal of firearms, rounds of ammunition and bombmaking parts that he intended to use to carry out the mass killing of gay people. This kind of vile and heinous hate-fueled violence, intended to target innocent people based on their sexual orientation, runs contrary to our values as Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Bias-motivated crimes targeting the LGBTQI+ community will not be tolerated.  The Justice Department will continue using every tool at our disposal to protect communities from the scourge of hate-fueled violence by prosecuting those who carry out or attempt to carry out such crimes.”

“Davis’ plans were chilling. He intended to commit mass shootings at two locations — destroying countless lives and devastating our community — all because of his fanatical hatred for gay people,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern  District of Michigan. “I applaud the work of law enforcement in disrupting this awful plot and arresting Davis before he could carry out his planned attacks. Today’s guilty plea is a reflection of my office’s commitment to prosecuting bias crimes and is a critical step in holding this defendant accountable for his actions.”

“Mack Davis’ guilty plea to a federal hate crime highlights the unwavering dedication of law enforcement to uphold the safety and security of every community in Michigan,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of FBI Detroit Field Office. “This case serves as a stark reminder that there is no tolerance for hate-fueled violence. Davis confessed to devising a plan motivated by his deep-seated hatred, targeting innocent individuals associated with the LGBTQIA+ community. The FBI’s Detroit Field Office, Flint Resident Agency, in collaboration with the Owosso Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and the Michigan State Police, acted swiftly to prevent this malicious scheme from being carried out. Our collective action disrupted a serious threat and reaffirmed our commitment to protecting vulnerable communities from harm. Michigan law enforcement remains committed to ensuring all individuals live free from fear of violence or discrimination. We are dedicated to combating hate, protecting the safety and well-being of Michigan residents, and fostering a safe environment where everyone, regardless of identity, can thrive in peace.”

According to court documents, from at least July 2023 through June 2024, Davis accessed search engines and social media sites to research, post about, and pay tribute to mass killers, and wrote about dozens of mass killers in journals and on other items in his home.  During that period, Davis also began to plot his own mass killing, by, among other things, drafting lists of weapons and tactical gear he owned and intended to acquire for use in his mass killing. By June, Davis had crossed off every item on the list of weapons and tactical gear he intended to acquire, and had amassed an arsenal that included two firearms, magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a crossbow and arrows, assorted bomb-making parts, smoke grenades, tactical gear and clothing and several knives. Davis inscribed one of the knives with the anti-gay slur, “FAGGOT Killer.”

From April through June, Davis solidified his plan to commit the mass killing. Among other acts, Davis posted on a social media site that he intended to commit a mass killing at a political party headquarters, which Davis referred to as “Location 1,” that Davis wrote was “filled with far-left liberal, faggot scum.” Davis wrote that he would continue the mass killing at “Location 2,” a nearby bar that Davis wrote was “a faggot bar.” Davis researched both locations online, conducted physical surveillance of both locations and posted about his research and surveillance on the social media site. During that period, Davis also vandalized two cars that belonged to his neighbors, whom he knew to be gay, by spray-painting the word “fag” on one of the cars. Days later, Davis also test-fired one of his firearms, an illegal short-barreled rifle, by firing approximately 60 bullets into several of his neighbors’ properties, including one of the cars that he had previously vandalized.

The Owosso Police Department arrested Davis for that shooting. Davis was later transferred to federal custody, where he has remained since.   

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date. Because Davis’s hate crime involved an attempt to kill, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case, with assistance the from the Owosso Police Department, ATF and Michigan State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Lee Carlson and Christopher W. Rawsthorne for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

FLINT - According to court documents, Mack Davis, 22, of Owosso, admitted that he attempted to conduct a mass killing of individuals at a political party headquarters and a nearby bar in the Eastern District of Michigan because he associated both locations with gay people.

“This defendant amassed an arsenal of firearms, rounds of ammunition and bombmaking parts that he intended to use to carry out the mass killing of gay people. This kind of vile and heinous hate-fueled violence, intended to target innocent people based on their sexual orientation, runs contrary to our values as Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Bias-motivated crimes targeting the LGBTQI+ community will not be tolerated.  The Justice Department will continue using every tool at our disposal to protect communities from the scourge of hate-fueled violence by prosecuting those who carry out or attempt to carry out such crimes.”

“Davis’ plans were chilling. He intended to commit mass shootings at two locations — destroying countless lives and devastating our community — all because of his fanatical hatred for gay people,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “I applaud the work of law enforcement in disrupting this awful plot and arresting Davis before he could carry out his planned attacks. Today’s guilty plea is a reflection of my office’s commitment to prosecuting bias crimes and is a critical step in holding this defendant accountable for his actions.”

“Mack Davis’ guilty plea to a federal hate crime highlights the unwavering dedication of law enforcement to uphold the safety and security of every community in Michigan,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of FBI Detroit Field Office. “This case serves as a stark reminder that there is no tolerance for hate-fueled violence. Davis confessed to devising a plan motivated by his deep-seated hatred, targeting innocent individuals associated with the LGBTQIA+ community. The FBI’s Detroit Field Office, Flint Resident Agency, in collaboration with the Owosso Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and the Michigan State Police, acted swiftly to prevent this malicious scheme from being carried out. Our collective action disrupted a serious threat and reaffirmed our commitment to protecting vulnerable communities from harm. Michigan law enforcement remains committed to ensuring all individuals live free from fear of violence or discrimination. We are dedicated to combating hate, protecting the safety and well-being of Michigan residents, and fostering a safe environment where everyone, regardless of identity, can thrive in peace.”

According to court documents, from at least July 2023 through June 2024, Davis accessed search engines and social media sites to research, post about, and pay tribute to mass killers, and wrote about dozens of mass killers in journals and on other items in his home.  During that period, Davis also began to plot his own mass killing, by, among other things, drafting lists of weapons and tactical gear he owned and intended to acquire for use in his mass killing. By June, Davis had crossed off every item on the list of weapons and tactical gear he intended to acquire, and had amassed an arsenal that included two firearms, magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a crossbow and arrows, assorted bomb-making parts, smoke grenades, tactical gear and clothing and several knives. Davis inscribed one of the knives with the anti-gay slur, “FAGGOT Killer.”

From April through June, Davis solidified his plan to commit the mass killing. Among other acts, Davis posted on a social media site that he intended to commit a mass killing at a political party headquarters, which Davis referred to as “Location 1,” that Davis wrote was “filled with far-left liberal, faggot scum.” Davis wrote that he would continue the mass killing at “Location 2,” a nearby bar that Davis wrote was “a faggot bar.” Davis researched both locations online, conducted physical surveillance of both locations and posted about his research and surveillance on the social media site. During that period, Davis also vandalized two cars that belonged to his neighbors, whom he knew to be gay, by spray-painting the word “fag” on one of the cars. Days later, Davis also test-fired one of his firearms, an illegal short-barreled rifle, by firing approximately 60 bullets into several of his neighbors’ properties, including one of the cars that he had previously vandalized.

The Owosso Police Department arrested Davis for that shooting. Davis was later transferred to federal custody, where he has remained since.   

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date. Because Davis’s hate crime involved an attempt to kill, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case, with assistance the from the Owosso Police Department, ATF and Michigan State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Lee Carlson and Christopher W. Rawsthorne for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

DETROIT – Bishop Allen, 26, was sentenced yesterday to 2 years and 6 months in federal prison for his role in a firearm trafficking ring, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. This is the latest in a series of prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office targeting straw purchasers and gun traffickers. A straw purchaser is someone who unlawfully purchases a gun for another, typically a person who is prohibited by law from possessing one or for someone who does not want their name associated with the transaction. Since the beginning of 2022, at least 20 people have been convicted in federal court in Detroit for their involvement in the straw purchasing of firearms.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge James Deir, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Division.

“My office is committed to keeping guns out of the hands of convicted felons and will aggressively prosecute not just the leaders of these gun trafficking organizations, but also the straw purchasers who make these schemes possible. Lying when buying a gun for someone else is a serious crime that deserves just punishments like these,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “Our commitment to preventing the illegal flow of firearms is unwavering, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to ensure the safety of our citizens.”

“Identifying and prosecuting illegal firearm traffickers who knowingly place illegally purchased firearms in the hands of criminals as a money-making scheme is ATF’s top priority.  Cases like this represent the worst side of personal greed.  Bishop Allen and his co-conspirators knowingly placed our community’s safety second to their collective greed to make a buck,” said ATF Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “Ultimately, Mr. Allen is going to have a lot of free time to reflect on his poor decision making.”

Among the cases brought in federal court are:

United States v. Chauncey Williams, et al.

Chauncey Williams, Antonio Jackson, and Mike Chahoua were leaders of a scheme to use stolen credit card information to buy firearms online, which were then shipped to local firearm retailers for pickup. The leaders enlisted several straw purchasers to pick up firearms. To get the firearms, the straw purchasers were directed to lie on the required ATF paperwork. In total, the group illegally obtained at least 55 firearms through the scheme. Several of the firearms have been recovered by law enforcement, including in the hands of convicted felons.

The three leaders of the trafficking ring were sentenced as follows:

• Chauncey Williams, age 24 of Detroit: 81 months’ imprisonment
• Antonio Jackson, age 24 of Detroit: 94 months’ imprisonment
• Mike Chahoua, age 25 of Detroit: 52 months’ imprisonment

The straw purchasers involved in the trafficking ring were sentenced as follows:

• Garcia Moses, age 26 of Detroit: 54 months’ imprisonment
• Emmanuel Stevens, age 23 of Detroit: 46 months’ imprisonment
• Donte Turner, age 27 of Mt. Clemens: 30 months’ imprisonment
• James Jackson, age 25 of Detroit: 30 months’ imprisonment
• Eshon Rose, age 24 of Redford Charter Township: 18 months’ imprisonment
• Bishop Allen, age 26 of Detroit: 30 months’ imprisonment

United States v. Ruemondo Murray, et al.

Earlier this year, Ruemondo Murray was sentenced to 52 months’ imprisonment for directing a separate conspiracy to straw purchase firearms. According to court documents, 6 women involved in that conspiracy purchased a total of 24 firearms on behalf of Murray from multiple federally licensed firearms dealers in metro Detroit. When the women made the purchases, they falsely affirmed on federal firearms purchase documents that they were the actual buyer of the firearms, when in fact, they were purchasing them for Murray. Murray is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions of robbery and felony firearm.

In total, the group illegally obtained at least 24 firearms.  All of the remaining straw purchasers involved in the trafficking ring have already pleaded guilty to felony offenses and been sentenced.

United States v. Nathan Price

On July 11, 2024, Nathan Price pleaded guilty to Making a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm, in violation of federal law. Between December 2023 and February 2024, Price straw purchased 10 firearms from various federal firearms dealers in the Detroit area. For each purchase, he falsely declared that he was the actual purchaser of the firearm.  He was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

United States v. Kai Edwards & Quentin Luster

In November of 2022, Kai Edwards entered a gun store with a convicted felon, Quentin Luster, and purchased two firearms at his request. In 2024, Edwards pleaded guilty and was sentenced.   On August 15, 2024, Luster entered a guilty plea to straw purchase of a firearm and was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.

United States v. Omar Shorter

From 2020 to 2022, Omar Shorter purchased approximately 39 guns. On April 10, 2024, a jury found Shorter guilty of Making a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm and Engaging in the Business of Selling Firearms without a License.  Of the 39 guns Shorter purchased, 9 were recovered by police officers during felony arrests and 3 were involved in non-fatal shootings. Shorter was sentenced to 14 months in prison.

These cases are a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ campaign "Don’t Lie for the Other Guy" is a part of PSN aimed at reducing firearm “straw purchases,” the illegal purchase of a firearm by one person for another, and to educate would-be straw purchasers of the penalties of knowingly participating in an illegal firearm purchase. More information about the campaign can be found at: www.dontlie.org.

DETROIT - A Warren, Michigan man pleaded guilty today to defacing a predominantly Black church in Roseville, Michigan, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Chevoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to court documents, in October 2021, David Bluer, 34, spray-painted several swastikas, the word “die,” and other graffiti on the Roseville church because of the race and color of individuals associated with the church.  Specifically, the defendant admitted that he intentionally defaced the church because the church serves a predominantly Black congregation and has a Black pastor.

For this, Bluer pleaded guilty to one count of damaging religious property. Bluer faces a maximum  penalty of one year in prison.

“Today’s guilty plea should send a clear message that our office will aggressively protect our district’s houses of worship, including against attacks motivated by race and color,” U.S. Attorney Ison said.

"Racially motivated crimes have no place in our society," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. "Hate crimes are message crimes intended to sow fear and terror in communities. Through this prosecution, the Justice Department sends its own message — that we will protect communities from such hate-fueled violence and use every tool at our disposal to investigate and prosecute those who perpetrate these heinous attacks."

“David Bluer's guilty plea to a hate crime for defacing a predominantly Black church underscores the FBI's steadfast commitment to addressing civil rights violations and holding individuals accountable for acts of hate. This targeted criminal act, coupled with Mr. Bluer's admission of harboring hatred based on race and ethnicity, highlights the FBI's dedication to safeguarding faith-based communities in Michigan," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI plays a critical role in investigating hate crimes, especially those targeting vulnerable communities. Acts of hate and violence, such as defacing places of worship, not only violates the law but also seek to instill fear and division in our communities. The FBI's involvement in this case, in collaboration with the Roseville and Warren Police Departments, exemplifies the FBIs proactive approach to protecting individuals from hate-fueled acts and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their despicable actions. By working closely with local law enforcement, the FBI ensures that those who commit hate crimes are identified, investigated, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Their continued efforts demonstrate an unwavering commitment to protecting all communities, upholding civil rights, preserving the safety of places of worship, and ensuring justice for victims of intolerance.”

Bluer is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2025.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson of the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

DETROIT –A Detroit man was sentenced to 7 ½ years in prison yesterday for stealing nearly 50 firearms from a gun store in Dearborn Heights, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).

Deon Bell, 29, was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment, which will run consecutive to a 102-month sentence imposed on Bell in a separate armed robbery case involving a T-Mobile store.

According to court documents, for the first burglary, Bell recruited three young men, one of whom was a juvenile, to help him steal guns from a licensed gun store in Dearborn Heights. The group stole a car, crashed it into the front of the store, and stole 22 weapons. Bell did it again the next night, this time recruiting two other juveniles to join his crime spree. The group again stole a car, crashed it into the front of the gun store, and stole 25 more weapons. After this second robbery, Bell led police officers on a high-speed chase, putting all on the road at risk. Several of the stolen guns were recovered by law enforcement in other investigations, but many are still unaccounted for.

This was the most recent conviction for Bell, who has a long criminal history including drug trafficking, carrying a concealed weapon, criminal sexual conduct 3rd degree, and armed robbery.

“Stealing cars, crashing them into gun stores to rob them, and putting nearly 50 stolen guns on the street endangered our community in so many ways,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “Worse still is the fact that Bell recruited juveniles to commit these crimes with him. Deon Bell’s repeated, reckless violent conduct has no place in our community.”

“Deon Bell is a menace to our community’s safety.  He concocted a burglary scheme to funnel illegal weapons into our community. Furthermore, Mr. Bell cowardly recruited and manipulated juveniles in our community to further perpetrate his criminal acts putting our community’s safety at risk.  Burglaries of federal firearms licensees continue to be one of ATF’s top priorities,” said Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir Simply put:  “Greed is bad. There is no place in our community for illegal firearms traffickers whose personal greed to make a quick buck leads them to burglarize firearm dealers in our community. They will be held accountable.”

This case was investigated by agents from ATF, but started with Dearborn Heights Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Ramamurthy, Meghan Bean, and Hank Moon. 

DETROIT – United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Dawn N. Ison and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis hosted two summits yesterday focused on promoting the health, safety, and civil rights of tenants living in HUD-assisted housing. The program focused on combatting sexual misconduct and eliminating environmental hazards in HUD-assisted housing.

The summits, which took place at Anderson Enrichment Center in Saginaw and Kemeny Recreation Center in Detroit, were part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s and Inspector General’s complementary initiatives to promote safe housing related to eliminating environmental hazards such as lead-based paint and how to recognize and report sexual harassment and misconduct.

“Everyone should be able to live safely in their homes, free from exposure to environmental hazards, and free from being subjected to harassment from their landlord,” said U.S. Attorney Ison.  “We convened these summits today to raise awareness that residents have protections under federal law and that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our partners at HUD OIG, will continue to work every day to eradicate sexual harassment and environmental hazards in housing throughout the Eastern District of Michigan.”

“In partnership with U.S. Attorney Ison and her colleagues across the Nation, we remain dedicated to combatting sexual misconduct by housing providers and ensuring HUD-assisted tenants live in units free from lead and other environmental hazards,” said Inspector General Oliver Davis. “Opportunities like those we held today engaging community stakeholders in safe housing summits demonstrate HUD OIG’s commitment to holding accountable housing providers for putting the health and safety of HUD-assisted families at risk, and bringing to justice those who victimize vulnerable tenants.”

Participants included representatives from organizations that routinely work with vulnerable populations most likely to be impacted by environmental hazards, such as lead-based paint in their homes, or subjected to sexual harassment in housing by their landlords, property managers, or others with control over housing. The organizations represented included legal services offices, fair housing organizations, civil rights groups, shelters, and social service organizations.

If you or someone you know has information about environmental hazards and unsafe conditions in HUD-assisted housing or has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation – even if the events occurred years ago – report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or visit the website at www. https://hudoig.gov/hotline.  You may also file a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint.

Individuals who believe they have been victims of sexual harassment in housing, or discrimination may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 1-313-226-9151 or email us at [email protected].

DETROIT – A State of Washington man was sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison for his role in an armed drug conspiracy that amassed nearly 200 pounds of methamphetamine and other controlled substances, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Detroit Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

Antonio D.J. Mitchell, 39, of Seattle, Washington was sentenced to 150 months in prison by United States District Judge Linda V. Parker.

According to court documents, DEA and USPIS agents learned through their investigation that Keith Haskins had been mailing kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine from California to his associate in Detroit, Kennie Smith. Federal agents intercepted several of these parcels, many of which contained drugs packaged inside of plastic buckets from a hardware store chain. Smith then managed distribution in the Detroit area from several of his properties.

Haskins later recruited Mitchell to assist with transporting drugs and drug proceeds between the southwestern United States and Michigan. Haskins and Mitchell eventually moved to Detroit and expanded their operations. The pair rented a storage unit and a downtown apartment where, in November 2021, agents found over 87 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, seven firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including a drum-style magazine. 

Four members of the conspiracy were charged in federal court. Haskins, Smith, and Mitchell each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as possessing or attempting to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Haskins, 47, of San Bernardino County, California, was previously sentenced to 18 years in prison. Smith, 46, of Clinton Township, Michigan, received 125 months in prison. The fourth defendant, Chalisa Sawyer, is awaiting trial set for January 28, 2025.

“We will tirelessly pursue and prosecute drug dealers who continue to inflict harm on our communities with dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, whether near or far,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “The sentences imposed in this case, should underscore that goal. I commend our law enforcement partners at DEA and USPIS whose hard work helped achieve these significant results.”

“At the time of his arrest, Mr. Mitchell and his co-conspirators were in possession of more than 87 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, and other illicit drugs. The fentanyl alone could provide a deadly dosage to 1.5 million people,” said Special Agent in Charge Orville. “DEA remains committed to dismantling criminal organizations who exchange lives for monetary gain and blatantly ignore the laws of this nation.”

“The sentences handed down thus far for these co-conspirators underscore the seriousness of the crimes at hand and the resolve with which we strive to secure the nation’s mail system and keep our customers and communities safe,” said Inspector in Charge Hopkins. “Crucial to the success of this mission are the relationships we maintain with partners at all levels. We would like to express sincere appreciation the DEA’s Detroit Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan for their tireless work with us to achieve a successful outcome in this investigation.”

This case was investigated by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and inspectors from the United States Postal Inspection Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Franzinger.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

DETROIT – A Florida man pleaded guilty today to federal charges for repeatedly threatening the Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR”) Michigan Chapter, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Chad Baugh, Chief of the Canton Police Department.

According to court documents, Michael Shapiro, 72, of West Palm Beach, Florida, placed three separate phone calls to CAIR’s office located in Canton, Michigan, and left voicemails containing the following threats:

•             December 8, 2023: “I’m going to kill you bastards. I’m going to kill you bastards.”

•             December 14, 2023: ““I’m going to kill you mother f*****g bastards. Muslims! I’m going to kill you mother f*****s. I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you!”

•             December 15, 2023: “You’re a violent people. Why do you come to America? Why do you come to Europe? Mother f*****s. You’re violent. You’re killers. You’re rapists. I’m going to kill you mother f*****s!”

For this, Shapiro pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. Shapiro also admitted that he intentionally selected CAIR as the victim of his threats because of the actual and perceived religion and national origin of the people who work at and are assisted by CAIR.

“No one should be able to threaten violence and instill fear on an entire community. Today’s conviction should send a strong message that those who do so will be investigated, identified, and aggressively prosecuted,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.

"Michael Shapiro's guilty plea for threats motivated by religious bias underscores the FBI's unwavering commitment to protecting individuals from hate and intolerance," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "This conviction serves as a powerful demonstration of the serious consequences faced by those who engage in hate-fueled threats, sending a clear warning to others. The success of this case is a direct result of the strong collaboration between the FBI Michigan and the Canton Police Department. Law enforcement efforts are greatly bolstered by the community's support, including faith-based organizations, in addressing and preventing hate crimes. Together, we remain steadfast in our dedication to combating violence rooted in bias and will continue to promote safety, respect, and justice for all members of our diverse communities. This case unequivocally illustrates that acts of hate and intolerance are met with zero tolerance by the Michigan law enforcement community. Such offenses will be vigorously prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, exemplifying our unwavering commitment to justice and protecting all community members."

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson.

DETROIT – William A. Smith, 52, the former Chief Financial Officer for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, pleaded guilty today to federal charges from a years-long scheme to embezzle over $40 million from the Conservancy, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.  

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) Detroit Field Office.

Smith pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Both counts carry a statutory maximum term of twenty years imprisonment.

According to court documents, William A. Smith, of Northville, was employed as the Chief Financial Officer for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Inc. (the Conservancy) from 2011 through May 2024.  The Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) organization formed with the mission of developing access to the Detroit riverfront. The Conservancy envisions creation of a continuous Riverwalk from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Gabriel Richard Park in the east, along with plazas, pavilions, and green spaces. Funding for the Conservancy is provided by both private donors and public grants. In his position as Chief Financial Officer of the Conservancy, Smith enjoyed substantial discretion in overseeing and managing the Conservancy’s financial affairs.

According to the plea agreement, beginning no later than November 2012 and continuing until May 2024, Smith orchestrated a scheme to embezzle millions of dollars in funds belonging to the DRFC.  The embezzlement scheme took three principal forms:

• First, Smith diverted Conservancy funds from the organization’s bank accounts to a bank account in the name of “The Joseph Group, Inc.,” an entity owned and controlled by Smith. The Joseph Group was not an approved vendor for the Conservancy and provided no goods or services of any kind to the organization. However, between February 2013 and May 2024, Smith transferred approximately $24.4 million from the Conservancy’s bank accounts to an account in the name of the Joseph Group.
• Second, Smith maintained an American Express account in the name of another of the many entities he owned and controlled, this one called “William Smith & Associates LLC.”  There were four American Express credit cards issued on this account. Between November 2012 and May 2024, Smith used approximately $14.9 million in Conservancy funds to pay off purchases made on this account. None of these expenditures were authorized by the Conservancy, which maintained other credit card accounts for Conservancy purchases. Smith used the American Express account to purchase furniture, designer clothing, handbags, lawn care services, airline tickets, and other consumer goods and services for himself and his family.
• Third, Smith used Conservancy funds to purchase cashier’s checks from various financial institutions. These cashier check purchases were unauthorized, and Smith used the cashier’s checks for his own purposes without the knowledge or approval of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors.

Smith engaged in various practices to cover up and sustain this massive fraud scheme. In some instances, Smith falsified bank statements that he provided to the Conservancy’s bookkeeper, altering or deleting unauthorized transfers on the statements in order to keep them off of the Conservancy’s books. In at least one other instance, he took out a line of credit with a financial institution (Citizen’s Bank) on behalf of the Conservancy. Smith claimed to be acting with the authorization of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors in taking out this line of credit. In fact, Smith had no such authority, and the documents he provided Citizen’s Bank purporting to show that he had such authorization were forgeries.  Smith used the funds from this line of credit (which eventually totaled $5 million) to infuse monies into the Conservancy’s bank accounts to help cover up his substantial embezzlement from those accounts.

According to plea documents, Smith also took complex steps to disguise the origin of the funds he embezzled from the Conservancy.  He routinely transferred the stolen Conservancy monies through elaborate chains of intermediate entities, all with the intent of concealing the source and nature of those funds.

The plea agreement states that the financial losses from Smith’s scheme are difficult to quantify with precision. However, Smith agreed to pay no less than $44.3 million in restitution as a result of his conduct. 

“William Smith admitted today to perpetrating a financial crime that is astonishing in its scope and impact,” stated United States Attorney Ison. “Smith stole over $40 million dollars from the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy – a non-profit organization dedicated to creating beautiful public spaces that Detroit’s residents and visitors can use and enjoy. Smith not only betrayed the Conservancy’s trust, but he betrayed the trust of the whole community, all so that he could enjoy the trappings of wealth and comfort. I remain shocked at the scale of the fraud and the harm it has caused, and today’s guilty plea is an important step towards holding Mr. Smith accountable for his outrageous conduct.”

"Mr. Smith’s deceitful actions, which spanned for more than a decade, not only broke the trust of his employer, but the entire community,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “William Smith used his position of authority to financially profit at the expense of his employer. Today’s guilty plea is a direct result of a tireless work of members from the FBI in Detroit. The FBI remains committed to working with our partners to combat these serious white-collar crimes."

“William Smith held a position of trust and authority in the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, an organization created to help revitalize outdoor spaces for all of the Detroit community. Such an extreme breach of that trust, millions of dollars stolen that would have benefitted the city for years to come, is almost unfathomable,” said Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI, Detroit Field Office. “IRS-CI’s role in this kind of investigation becomes even more important due to the complex financial transactions that can take time to unravel. With the guilty plea that was announced today, we know our work to hold Mr. Smith accountable for the outright lies and theft from the conservancy will lead to an appropriate consequence.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John K. Neal and Robert A. Moran.  The case is being investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigations.

BAY CITY –  A Detroit man was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison today for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking operation in the Saginaw-Bay region, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. 

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office.

The 720-month sentence imposed on Ricardo Delgado, II, 51, by United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Ludington, followed a week-long trial in June in which the jury found Delgado guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl; possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a machinegun; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of an unregistered silencer; and, use of communication facility to commit a drug offense.

Evidence at trial established that Delgado was the leader of a large-scale drug conspiracy that involved the importation of numerous kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl from Mexico for distribution in the Saginaw-Bay region. During the course of the investigation, FBI agents learned from a court-authorized wiretap that Delgado was seeking retaliation for the theft of his drugs from a subordinate and that he ordered that subordinate to exact revenge. However, this plan was thwarted by authorities. In addition, following Delgado’s arrest, law enforcement officers seized 13 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of fentanyl, 12 firearms, including two machineguns, two silencers, and over $200,000 in cash from Delgado’s residence.

“This defendant endangered countless individuals by trafficking in large quantities of deadly fentanyl and cocaine.  He also sought to use violence to protect his trade in illicit drugs,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.  “This sentence should serve as a stark warning that our office will zealously pursue those who seek to bring illegal drugs and violence into our community.”

"Today's sentencing of Ricardo Delgado, a notorious drug trafficker, marks a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis and protect the public from its devastating effects," stated Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "The FBI Michigan remains firmly committed to addressing the dual threats of illegal firearms trafficking and drug distribution that endanger the safety of our communities. Through collaborative efforts with our local and state law enforcement partners, we continue dismantling criminal networks and disrupting the flow of harmful substances. I sincerely thank the dedicated professionals at FBI Michigan, the Bay City Department of Public Safety, the Saginaw Police Department, the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Michigan State Police. Our collective determination to safeguard Michigan residents and uphold justice remains unwavering as we work to hold those who threaten public safety accountable."

This investigation was conducted by special agents of the FBI Detroit Division (Bay City Office), special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosive (ATF),  and law enforcement officials from Michigan State Police, Midland Police Department, Saginaw Police Department, Saginaw Township Police Department, Bridgeport Police Department, the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (BAYANET), and the Strike Team Investigative Narcotics Group (STING).

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Turkelson and Will Orr.

The Justice Department announced today that it has opened an investigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into whether the State of Michigan unnecessarily institutionalizes adults with serious mental illness in state psychiatric hospitals. The department will investigate whether the state fails to provide necessary community-based mental health services to enable people to transition from the state psychiatric hospitals and remain stable in the community.

Prior to the announcement, the department informed the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the State Attorney General’s Office of the initiation of the investigation.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people’s right to receive mental health services in the community, rather than remaining in hospitals when they are ready to go home,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This investigation will assess whether Michigan is honoring the ADA’s promise that people with disabilities be served in the most integrated setting appropriate. The Civil Rights Division will continue to advocate for states to provide people with disabilities the services they need to avoid unnecessary institutionalization.”

“Our office is committed to investing the resources necessary to investigate these claims because we will never tire of ensuring that every citizen is afforded the full protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan.

“We open this investigation as part of our mission to protect civil rights and to ensure our neighbors with mental health disabilities can succeed and thrive in their communities,” said U.S. Attorney Mark A. Totton for the Western District of Michigan.

The Justice Department has not reached any conclusions regarding the subject matter under investigation. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department via email at [email protected], 888-392-5415 or through the Civil Rights Division’s Civil Rights Portal at civilrights.justice.gov/.

Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s ADA enforcement is available at www.justice.gov/crt/rights-persons-disabilities and www.justice.gov/crt/disability-rights-section.

Bay City, MI –A Mount Pleasant man was sentenced to over 33 years in prison for murder and other assaultive crimes, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Johnathan Ashford, 39, was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas L. Ludington to 400 months’ imprisonment, after having pleaded guilty to murder, assault with intent to murder, and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence on July 16, 2024.

The evidence established that after having an argument with his significant other, Ashford retrieved a 9mm Taurus handgun and shot his significant other multiple times, killing her. Several of the bullets Ashford fired struck a 6-month-old child who his significant other was holding in her arms when he shot her. The baby suffered life threatening injuries, but survived. Both victims are Indians, and the incident occurred on the Isabella Reservation within Indian country in the Eastern District of Michigan.

“The violent actions of this defendant are appalling as he took the life of a young woman and seriously injured a 6-month old child,” said United States Attorney Ison. “Our office has an unwavering commitment to holding accountable those who perpetuate violence in our tribal communities.”

The case was investigated by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Isabella County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, Saginaw City Police, Buena Vista Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roy Kranz.

DETROIT – Haidir Altoon, 52, of Farmington Hills, was sentenced to one day of incarceration to be followed by two years of supervised release with the first 6 months under house arrest, a $10,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service for conspiring to commit bribery with Richard Sollars, the former Mayor of City of Taylor, and Jeffrey Baum, City of Taylor Community Development Manager, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Altoon, the owner of Dominick’s Market and a real estate developer, paid bribes to Sollars by giving him tens of thousands of dollars in cash, scratch-off lottery tickets, and other items of value in connection with the City of Taylor’s Right of First Refusal (ROFR) program.  Under the ROFR program, the City of Taylor acquired tax-foreclosed properties from Wayne County and selected developers to rehabilitate and eventually purchase the poperties. After meeting Sollars at his market and expressing interest in acquiring houses under the ROFR program, Sollars asked Altoon to cash fraudulent checks from his campaign fund. Sollars made campaign checks payable to Dominick’s Market in various amounts, each purporting to represent payment for catering services provided to the campaign. At Sollars’s direction, Altoon prepared false invoices for catering services that were not actually provided and gave Sollars some or all of the proceeds from the cashed fraudulent checks for Sollars’s personal use.

Following an evidentiary hearing, the Court found that Sollars received $70,362.98 from this, and other wire fraud schemes related to his campaign account. It was also part of the conspiracy that Altoon gave money and other things of value to Jeffrey Baum, who, at the time, was running the ROFR program for the City. In exchange for the cash and other things of value that Altoon provided to Sollars and Baum at Sollars’s direction and without the knowledge and consent of the City Council, Baum facilitated the transfer of nine ROFR properties to Altoon. 

“This case should send a message to anyone who seeks to do business with local municipalities that giving into the corrupt demands of public officials does not pay.  My office will aggressively prosecute and hold accountable both the bribe payer, as well as the bribe receiver, since any exchange of bribes deny the citizens of this district the honest services they expect and deserve,” said United States Attorney Ison.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Carlson and Robert Moran.

DETROIT - A Jackson, Michigan man was arrested today and charged with one count of making a threatening interstate communication. The charge arises out of Pierce allegedly sending threatening e-mails to a political action committee (PAC) engaged in fundraising activities related to the November 5, 2024, election, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Joining in the announcement was Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to court documents, on or about October 2, 2024, Christopher Pierce, 46, of Jackson, Michigan, allegedly sent two electronic communications containing threats to injure or kill individuals associated with the PAC. In apparent response to fundraising solicitation communications, Pierce communicated: “I guarantee I can find each and every one of your [expletive] organizees. And we will turn you [expletive] inside out. . . . Now you better stop or I promise you this is badly for all of you [expletive] and we won’tinvolve [sic] the law.” In a second communication shortly thereafter, Pierce stated, “You will shut down your entire organization or it will be shut down for you. 90% of the members of [named organization]… are trained killers. . . . It paints targets onyour [sic] backs and the backs of your families. Your call centers have been located. Don’t make these boys and girlsgo [sic] to work.”

Pierce is charged with one count of making a threatening interstate communication. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. 

The investigation is being conducted by FBI. 

This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Three years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun.

To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DETROIT –Jeffrey Baum, 49, of Allen Park, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiring to accept bribes while he was the Community Development Manager for the City of Taylor, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In 2015, the City of Taylor created the Right of First Refusal program (ROFR). Under this program, each year the City acquired tax-delinquent homes and selected developers to rehabilitate and eventually purchase the properties. Baum was the manager of Taylor’s Community Development Department and was responsible for overseeing the ROFR program. During this time, Baum introduced Shady Awad, a real estate developer interested in acquiring ROFR properties to develop, to then-Mayor Richard Sollars. While Awad was a contractor with the City and Baum was supervising the program, Baum solicited and accepted bribes, including cash from Awad on behalf of himself and Sollars. Baum also accepted bribes from Hadir Altoon, the owner of Dominick’s Market, who was also interested in obtaining ROFR properties.  Baum routinely received food and holiday gifts, including cash, from Altoon. Without the knowledge or consent of the City Council and at Sollars’s direction, Baum facilitated the transfer of nine ROFR properties to Altoon.

In addition to being the Community Development Manager, Baum was also the treasurer of Sollars’s campaign fund.  As treasurer, Baum was aware that Sollars stole tens of thousands of dollars from the fund.  Baum assisted Sollars by giving him pre-signed, blank campaign checks that Sollars used in a fake catering scheme with Altoon.  Sollars then made those checks payable to Dominick’s Market in various amounts, each purporting to represent payment for catering services provided to the campaign. At Sollars’s direction, Altoon prepared false invoices for catering services that were not actually provided. Instead, Altoon provided Sollars with some or all of the proceeds from the cashed fraudulent checks for Sollars’s personal use. Following an evidentiary hearing, the Court found that Sollars received $70,362.98 from this, and other wire fraud schemes related to his campaign account.  Baum also accepted large cash campaign donations and gave them to Sollars instead of depositing them into the fund’s bank account.  Baum further admitted to stealing between $10,000 and $20,000 from the fund for his personal use.   

“As the Manager of Community Development for the City of Taylor, Baum had a duty to represent the best interests of the citizens of Taylor.  Instead, he used his position of trust and authority to extort money and other items of value from the contractors he was hired to supervise.  Mr. Baum’s conviction and sentence should send a strong message to public employees that placing your own interests above those of the citizens of this district will not be tolerated,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Carlson and Robert Moran.

DETROIT – An Ann Arbor, Michigan, man was charged in a federal criminal complaint today with sending a threatening communication, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division.

Charged was Isaac Sissel, 25, who is currently staying in Ann Arbor.

According to court records, on November 2, 2024, the FBI National Threat Operations Center in West Virginia received an anonymous online threatening submission.  The threat read in part: “I shall carry out an attack against conservative christan, (sic) filth in the event trump wins the election.  I have a stolen ar15 and a target I refuse to name so I can continue to get away with my plans.  Without a specific victim or ability to find the place I hid the gun, there’s not a thing the FBI can do until I complete the attack.”

Sissel was arrested by the FBI this morning and will be making an appearance in federal court this afternoon.

The FBI Detroit Field Office is investigating the case.

This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation.

The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Three years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun.

To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DETROIT - United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today that GMAJOS, LLC, Dr. Stephen Swetech, and Yasser Maisari have agreed to pay a total of $700,948.42 to the United States and the State of Michigan to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act.  Dr. Swetech has also agreed to rescind his DEA registration and never again prescribe, administer, or dispense controlled substances.

Dr. Swetech operated a medical practice in Clinton Township, Michigan.  The practice was located in an office complex owned by his wife’s company, GMAJOS.  The complex included separate office spaces for the medical practice, a physical therapy center, and a pharmacy.  During all relevant times, Heartland Drugs, which was owned by Yasser Maisari and operated by Med Express Inc., occupied the pharmacy space.  GMAJOS also had a lease with a medical laboratory to rent a room within Dr. Swetech’s medical practice.

The settlement announced today resolves two sets of allegations. First, from January 1, 2018, through January 1, 2020, Biolab indirectly paid above fair market value rent to Dr. Swetech for a room rented from GMAJOS in order to induce Dr. Swetech’s referrals to Biolab. These referrals are alleged to have violated the False Claims Act as improper inducements and/or self-referrals. Second, from January 1, 2016, through January 1, 2018, Dr. Swetech prescribed medically unnecessary opioid and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medications, and Yasser Maisari’s Heartland Drugs filled those prescriptions, in violation of the False Claims Act.

“The False Claims Act is an important tool to deter and hold accountable those who submit fraudulent medical claims to the government,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Healthcare providers whose services are tainted by improper financial relationships or who are charging the government for unnecessary medical services will be vigorously investigated by our office.”

“The payment of kickbacks in exchange for patient referrals can corrupt legitimate medical decision-making and lead to the delivery of fraudulent and unnecessary medical services,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Chicago Region.  “Working together with our partners, HHS-OIG will continue our efforts to identify and investigate those who seek to unlawfully benefit from such arrangements.”

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under a qui tam or whistleblower lawsuit under the False Claims Act: United States and the State of Michigan ex rel. Doe v. Med Express Inc., et al., Case No. 17-13162 (E.D. Mich.).  Under the False Claims Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, the Michigan Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General.  The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney John Postulka from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. 

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

BAY CITY – A Saginaw man was convicted by a federal jury in Detroit on Friday for a 2018 assault and strangulation of his then girlfriend on the Isabella Indian Reservation, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Detroit Field Office.

Michael Lee Johnson, 45, was found guilty of several counts arising out of the assault and strangulation of the victim in this case, including unlawful imprisonment, assault of a dating partner by strangulation, assault of a dating partner by suffocation, domestic violence, and numerous instances of witness tampering.

The evidence at trial established that in October and November of 2018, Johnson held the victim against her will, threatened to kill her, and assaulted her numerous times by strangulation, suffocation, and other means, sometimes in front of her children. The evidence also established that after the police arrested Johnson for these crimes, he attempted to improperly influence or prevent the victim from reporting the incident to the police and testifying in court. According to testimony at trial, Johnson contacted the victim over 100 times following his arrest.  The crimes occurred on the Isabella Indian Reservation in Mt. Pleasant, the primary land base of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

“Johnson’s conduct against this victim was egregious enough in and of itself, but was compounded by the fact that he committed these violent acts in front of innocent children,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “We will continue to hold accountable those who persist in perpetrating epidemic levels of violence on America Indian women.”

Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for February 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. before United States District Judge Lin Parker.

The case was investigated by the Saginaw Chippewa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roy Kranz and Assistant United States Attorney Tim Turkelson.

DETROIT - United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today that the Justice Department will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Warren, Ann Arbor, Hamtramck, Detroit, and Flint for the Tuesday, November 5 general election.

The Justice Department enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include Justice Department personnel, who will contact state and local election officials as needed throughout Election Day.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin, or religion.

On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. Reports may be made through the department’s website www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-253-3931.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be available to receive complaints on Election Day at 313-226-9168.  In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the state to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 313-965-2323.

Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.

Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted.

More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

DETROIT – A former Detroit Police Officer pleaded guilty today to lying to federal agents who were investigating bribery allegations, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Dametri J. Wade, age 26, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to a federal agent before United States District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith.

According to the plea agreement, while employed by the Detroit Police Department and driving a Detroit Police scout car, Wade was present at the scene of a larceny that occurred on August 11, 2022, on Saint Maron Street in the City of Detroit.  The perpetrators of the larceny used false documents to make it appear like they had legal authority to access the property. Wade was present at the scene in his Detroit Police Department vehicle to further the ruse that the perpetrators of the larceny were legally permitted to enter the home in question.    

Wade was interviewed about this incident by FBI agents conducting a bribery investigation on December 19, 2022. Wade denied any knowledge of a larceny at the Saint Maron street property. In fact, Wade knew that there was going to be a larceny at the property, and that his presence was necessary to further the fiction that the larceny’s perpetrators were entering the property for a legally valid purpose. At the time he made the statement to the FBI agents, Wade knew that the statement was false, and he further knew that making false statements to the FBI was unlawful.

“Lying to law enforcement is never acceptable, but for an officer sworn to uphold the law to do so is inexcusable,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.  “Today’s conviction should send a strong message that no one, even a police officer, is above the law.”

"Today’s guilty plea from former Detroit Police Officer Dametri Wade reinforces our unwavering commitment to enforcing the highest standards of integrity in law enforcement," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Detroit. "We appreciate the crucial collaboration with Detroit Police Chief White and his department throughout this investigation. Let it be clear: Wade’s actions do not represent the exemplary standards of the Detroit Police Department. The FBI's Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force will relentlessly pursue any acts of public corruption, ensuring accountability for those who break the law and safeguarding the public's trust in those dedicated to protecting our great community."

Sentencing for Wade is scheduled for February 5, 2025. Wade faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Investigators of the Detroit Police Department's Professional Standards Bureau. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moran. 

DETROIT – A former Detroit Police Officer pleaded guilty today to lying to federal agents who were investigating bribery allegations, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Dametri J. Wade, age 26, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to a federal agent before United States District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith.

According to the plea agreement, while employed by the Detroit Police Department and driving a Detroit Police scout car, Wade was present at the scene of a larceny that occurred on August 11, 2022, on Saint Maron Street in the City of Detroit.  The perpetrators of the larceny used false documents to make it appear like they had legal authority to access the property. Wade was present at the scene in his Detroit Police Department vehicle to further the ruse that the perpetrators of the larceny were legally permitted to enter the home in question.    

Wade was interviewed about this incident by FBI agents conducting a bribery investigation on December 19, 2022. Wade denied any knowledge of a larceny at the Saint Maron street property. In fact, Wade knew that there was going to be a larceny at the property, and that his presence was necessary to further the fiction that the larceny’s perpetrators were entering the property for a legally valid purpose. At the time he made the statement to the FBI agents, Wade knew that the statement was false, and he further knew that making false statements to the FBI was unlawful.

“Lying to law enforcement is never acceptable, but for an officer sworn to uphold the law to do so is inexcusable,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.  “Today’s conviction should send a strong message that no one, even a police officer, is above the law.”

"Today’s guilty plea from former Detroit Police Officer Dametri Wade reinforces our unwavering commitment to enforcing the highest standards of integrity in law enforcement," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Detroit. "We appreciate the crucial collaboration with Detroit Police Chief White and his department throughout this investigation. Let it be clear: Wade’s actions do not represent the exemplary standards of the Detroit Police Department. The FBI's Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force will relentlessly pursue any acts of public corruption, ensuring accountability for those who break the law and safeguarding the public's trust in those dedicated to protecting our great community."

Sentencing for Wade is scheduled for February 5, 2025. Wade faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Investigators of the Detroit Police Department's Professional Standards Bureau. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moran. 

Detroit – A Royal Oak physician was charged in an Indictment for his role in a multi-million-dollar scheme to illegally sell and divert expensive prescription cancer drugs, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Joining Ison in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Special Agent in Charge Ronne Malham, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Charged in the Indictment is Dr. Naveed Aslam, age 51, of West Bloomfield, Michigan.

The charges against Dr. Aslam include one count of conspiracy to illegally sell or trade prescription drugs and 10 counts of illegally selling or trading prescription drugs.

According to the Indictment, by early 2019, and continuing through August 2023, Dr. Aslam, a licensed physician, worked with others to buy and sell expensive cancer drugs for profit and with the intent to defraud and mislead. The other individuals Dr. Aslam worked with identified customers interested in buying prescription cancer drugs, and they communicated with Dr. Aslam about what cancer drugs were requested. Dr. Aslam used his access to certain cancer drugs through his medical practice, Somerset Hematology and Oncology, P.C., to order and purchase the cancer drugs from his supplier. He then sold the cancer drugs to and through the other individuals’ company to the eventual customer. During this scheme, Dr. Aslam acquired and sold more than $17 million in prescription cancer drugs, and personally profited more than $2.5 million.

“The safety and integrity of our country’s prescription drug supply lines – particularly for cancer drugs – is an important part of our health care system,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “As alleged, Dr. Aslam used his role as a physician to violate that integrity and divert prescription cancer drugs away from treating patients. My office is committed to prosecuting medical professionals who seek to profit, rather than protect, our health care system.”

“Our agency is dedicated to ensuring that medical providers follow laws designed to protect both the integrity and solvency of Federal health care programs, as well as the beneficiaries they serve,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work closely with our Federal law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate allegations of fraud.”

"Having the authority to prescribe medication is a privilege that comes with a profound responsibility. Physicians must safeguard against drug diversion,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Dr. Aslam's alleged participation in this scheme not only allowed him to profit unlawfully from the sale of cancer drugs, but it also posed a serious threat by potentially placing these medications into the wrong hands. This breach of trust is inexcusable, especially considering the critical nature of the drugs involved. The FBI is unwavering in its commitment to hold medical professionals accountable for exploiting their positions for personal gain and endangering community safety."

“Introducing diverted prescription drugs into the supply chain and selling them to unsuspecting consumers undermines the FDA safeguards designed to protect the public,” said Ronne Malham, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Chicago Field Office‎. “We remain committed to bringing to justice those who place their personal gain over the health of American consumers.”

“A physician’s ethical responsibility is to their patients, not to selling cancer drugs under the table for profit,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “We will protect patients against fraud, especially from those in positions of public trust who choose greed over public safety.”

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Lievense. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica A. Nathan of the Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Unit is handling related forfeiture matters. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the FBI, HHS-OIG, HSI, and the FDA.

DETROIT- A Clarkston woman was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for wire fraud arising out of an embezzlement scheme targeting her former employer, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Joining Ison in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cheyvoryea Gibson.

Sally Lynn Elmore, 56, pleaded guilty in July 2024 to one count of wire fraud arising from a scheme to defraud her former employer that resulted in over $3 million in losses.  In addition to the 3 years’ imprisonment, United States District Judge Brandy R. McMillion ordered Elmore to pay $2.2 million in restitution to her victims and to pay a $3.2 million forfeiture money judgment. 

According to Court documents, from April 2019 to December 2022, Elmore abused her position of trust and used her access to the payroll and banking systems of her employer to execute a scheme to fraudulently direct electronic payments—in the form of salary, bonuses, and expense reimbursements that she knew she was not entitled to receive—from her employer’s bank account to her personal bank accounts.  In order to conceal her fraud, Elmore prepared and presented falsified financial statements to her employer’s board, representing that the company was still in possession of funds that she had, in fact, fraudulently directed to herself. She also concealed the missing funds from the company’s insurer, causing the company to lose coverage for losses from theft.  In total, Elmore stole over $3 million and gambled most of it away. 

“Elmore violated the trust placed in her as the director of finance and human resources for her company, stealing over three million dollars, nearly driving the company to insolvency, and putting the livelihoods of her fellow employees in jeopardy, stated United States Attorney Ison. “Our office will aggressively prosecute those individuals who abuse their authority to line their own pockets at others’ expense.”

"Over the course of three years, Ms. Elmore betrayed her employer by exploiting her access to the company’s finances, stealing millions of dollars, and covering up her actions through deception,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI has zero tolerance for fraud against individuals or institutions and will continue to work with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute those involved in embezzlement schemes. We are committed to ensuring that anyone who abuses their position of trust faces justice."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alyse Wu. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

DETROIT –Real estate developer was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for bribing former Mayor of Taylor Richard Sollars with cash, home renovations, and other things of value in exchange for obtaining tax-foreclosed properties from the City of Taylor for redevelopment, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. 

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Shady Awad, 44, of Allen Park was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith.

According to court documents, between 2016 and 2018,  Awad provided a steady stream of bribes to then-mayor Sollars in the form of cash, home improvements to Sollars’ home and lake house, appliances, and other items of value.  Awad also agreed to charge more than $19,000 to his credit cards, and then convert the charges to cash for Sollars. In total, Awad provided Sollars with goods and services valued at $85,011.73, in exchange for being permitted to acquire tax-foreclosed properties to redevelop through the City of Taylor’s Right of First Refusal (ROFR) program. This was a program designed to allow Taylor to acquire tax-foreclosed properties from Wayne County for redevelopment.  As a result of the bribes Awad paid to Sollars, Sollars recommended to City Council that Awad be awarded the vast majority of the City’s ROFR properties.  

“Mr. Awad’s conviction and sentence should send a strong message that not only will public officials who accept bribes be brought to justice by my office, but also, those who seek to gain an advantage by bribing public officials will face serious consequences as well,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.

“Mr. Awad and the former Mayor of Taylor unlawfully corrupted the City of Taylor’s real estate redevelopment program, meant to benefit the city and its residents, for their own private gain,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “FBI Michigan’s Detroit Area Corruption Task Force remains committed to rigorously investigating public corruption, especially individuals who cheat the system by bribing public officials.”

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Carlson and Robert Moran.

DETROIT - A licensed pharmacist from Dearborn Heights was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for submitting claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for her role in a scheme to defraud health care insurers by submitting claims for pharmaceuticals that were not actually purchased, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI’s Detroit Division and Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds also ordered Zeinab Makki, 61, to pay $6.9 million in restitution imposed of a forfeiture judgment of $6.9 million.

According to court records, Makki was the pharmacist in charge from 2001 through 2021 at New Millennium Drugs and Western Wayne Pharmacy. She admitted that she led a scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan by submitting claims for pharmaceuticals which New Millenium Drugs and Western Wayne Pharmacy did not actually purchase.

“Fraud by health care professionals will be aggressively pursued by our office,” said U.S. Attorney Ison.  “We hope that prosecutions like this one will deter health care professionals from stealing money from those who genuinely need it to order to line their own pockets.”

“This sentencing underscores our commitment to holding those who defraud Federal health care programs accountable,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Our agency remains dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and investigate fraud allegations.”

“False medical claims divert much needed funding away from patients in need of life-saving services and Ms. Makki will serve her sentence for orchestrating and participating in this scheme,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners and pursue justice against medical professionals who defraud government healthcare programs.

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the HHS and FBI, with cooperation and assistance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip A. Ross. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Nathan is prosecuting the related asset forfeiture matters.

DETROIT –Richard Sollars was sentenced to 71 months in prison for conspiring to accept bribes and engaging in wire fraud while he was the Mayor of the City of Taylor, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Between 2016 and 2018, Sollars, 50, exercised his authority and influence as Mayor and recommended to the Taylor City Council that Realty Transition, a company owned by his co-defendant, Shady Awad, be awarded the vast majority of the tax-foreclosed properties that the City had or would acquire under its Right of First Refusal (ROFR) program. This was a program designed to allow Taylor to acquire tax-foreclosed properties from Wayne County for redevelopment. Sollars recommended Realty Transition for the ROFR program, intending to be influenced and rewarded by the free home renovations and other items of value that Awad provided to Sollars for his personal residence, office, and lake house. After an evidentiary hearing, the Court found that Sollars received bribes from Awad totaling $85,011.73 as part of this bribery scheme. The bribes included items such as home renovations, a humidor, kitchen appliances, a washer and dryer, a Dyson vacuum cleaner, a camera, and cash.

In addition, as part of his election efforts, Sollars established a campaign account entitled, “Committee to Elect Richard Sollars, Jr.” Sollars engaged in a scheme to defraud his donors by fraudulently using donated funds for his personal benefit rather than for his political campaign.  In furtherance of the fraudulent scheme, Sollars directed his campaign treasurer to provide him with signed blank checks from his campaign account. Sollars then made those checks payable to Dominick’s Market in various amounts, each purporting to represent payment for catering services provided to the campaign. As known to Sollars, the owner of Dominick’s Market, Hadir Altoon, prepared false invoices for catering services that were not actually provided. Instead, Altoon would provide Sollars with some or all of the proceeds from the cashed fraudulent checks for Sollars’s personal use. After an evidentiary hearing, the Court found that Sollars received $70,362.98 from this, and other, wire fraud schemes related to his campaign account.

“Sollars, as the Mayor of the City of Taylor, pledged to represent the best interests of the citizens he represented and the voters who supported him. Instead, he used his elected office to award city contracts and spend campaign funds for his own personal financial enrichment,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “Sollars’s conviction and sentence demonstrate my office’s commitment to ensuring that those elected officials who place their own greed above their duties to the citizens in the community will be held to answer for their breach of trust.”

"The diligent work of the FBI's Detroit Area Corruption Task Force, working in collaboration with the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, resulted in the conviction of Richard Sollars, the former mayor of the City of Taylor," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Gibson. "This betrayal of public trust is a stark reminder of the importance of integrity and accountability in public office. We remain committed to upholding the principles of justice and transparency, ensuring that such actions do not go unpunished. Today's sentencing of Mr. Sollars brings closure to a lengthy and thorough investigation of the former mayor's administration."

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Carlson and Robert Moran.

DETROIT – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges in the trial of a Canadian man dealing drugs in the United States, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit Field Division.

Following a six-day trial before United States District Judge Sean F. Cox, Khaophone Sychantha, 43, a dual citizen of Laos and Canada, was convicted of one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, ecstasy, and BZP, one count of possession of methamphetamine, ecstasy, and BZP with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of ecstasy and BZP with intent to distribute.

Evidence at trial showed that Sychantha led an organization that directed several couriers to transport hundreds of thousands of pills and tens of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds across the United States-Canada border over an eight-year span. His couriers—many of whom were caught and convicted themselves—traveled to multiple states to deliver the pills. David Sok, Sychantha’s right-hand man, was also extradited from Canada and pleaded guilty earlier in the proceedings.

Prior to Sychantha’s extradition to the United States, he fled house arrest in Canada and HSI Detroit added him to the Homeland Security Investigations’ Ten Most Wanted List. He was subsequently arrested in the Montreal, Canada area in 2017 following an assault on a police officer and a short pursuit.

“Drug dealers who think they can hide behind international borders and couriers they hire to take all the risks, should think again,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “Together with our agency partners, we remain committed to working up drug trafficking supply chains to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and hold their leaders accountable, and this case demonstrates the depth of that commitment.”

“Sychantha sought to flood our communities with illicit drugs, bringing violence and pain to both sides of the border,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “HSI special agents, prosecutors, and law enforcement partners worked diligently for more than a decade to seek justice and accountability for these crimes. This conviction is a testament to their perseverance.”

Sychantha is facing a mandatory 10-year prison sentence, with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. Sentencing will occur on February 19, 2024.  Sychantha remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Norwood and T. Patrick Martin. 

DETROIT - United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Patrick Martin will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.  AUSA Martin has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Michigan, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

           United States Attorney Ison said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.  Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.  The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

           The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.  The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

          Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). 

           United States Attorney Ison stated that: “Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Martin will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (313)226-9168.”

           In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (313)965-2323.

           Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

           United States Attorney Ison said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.  It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

           Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

DETROIT – A Novi man was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison today for sexually exploiting multiple children, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

United States District Judge Gershwin A. Drain sentenced Glenn Dennison, 33, of Novi, Michigan.

Dennison pleaded guilty to filming himself violently sexually assaulting three minor children who were all under the age of 10 years old on April 10, 2024. The youngest was just two years old when the abuse started. Dennison’s sexual assaults came to light in 2022 when he posted images of child sexual abuse material on a public website. During a search warrant at Dennison’s Novi home in July 2022, HSI agents found his cellphone, which contained multiple files of Dennison’s horrific sexual abuse of the three children.

“This defendant was caregiver and preyed on the vulnerable children in his care. Our commitment to protecting children in our community and bringing to justice those who abuse them is unwavering. This sentence underscores that commitment, ” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.

“Child rapists can manipulate their way into children’s lives and this perpetrator was convicted for monstrous acts against children in his care,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar.  “We will never stop protecting and serving our community and seeking justice for victims. That being said these cases that prey upon innocent children are among the most difficult to investigate.  I am ever grateful to our team for the work they do and I want to bring attention to the fact that these crimes tend to be hidden in plain sight. If you have information on suspected child exploitation, please report it to our tipline at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.”

This case was investigated by HSI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Rawsthorne and Diane Princ. 

DETROIT – A federal grand jury has indicted Jeffrey A. Royer, 61, of Montrose, Colorado, for defrauding investors in a foreign currency (“forex”) trading scheme, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The indictment, which was unsealed today, charges Royer with one count of commodities fraud and one count of wire fraud.

According to the indictment and other court records, Royer was a Special Agent with the FBI from approximately 1996 to 2001. In 2005, Royer was convicted of federal securities fraud, among other charges, and was released from federal prison in 2012 after serving his sentence of imprisonment. From early 2020 through June 2023, Royer executed an investment fraud scheme involving his personal forex trading account. As part of the scheme, Royer fraudulently solicited and accepted over $1 million from various investors in the Eastern District of Michigan and elsewhere. He then misappropriated the money or lost it trading forex. Royer did not disclose the misappropriation or the extent of his trading losses. Instead, Royer concealed the truth from investors, including by providing investors with false monthly account statements that showed investment gains rather than the trading losses that Royer actually incurred.

“Investment fraud is simply a sophisticated means to steal people’s money,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “Our office has an unwavering commitment to prosecuting any and all fraudsters who take advantage of the residents of this District.”

“I am grateful to our FBI Michigan team, alongside members from the FBI Grand Junction Resident Agency and the Montrose Police Department in Colorado, for their investigative work and arrest in this case,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Today’s indictment of former FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Royer is important to ensure the public, regardless of an individual’s current or former profession, if you engage in foreign currency trading schemes, the FBI will investigate and arrest you.”

Law enforcement has identified many investors from southeast Michigan. Potential victims are encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The defendant faces up to twenty-five years in prison on the commodities fraud charge and up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trevor Broad and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

FLINT –  A Flint man was sentenced today to 4 years and 9 months  in federal prison for illegally importing and selling machinegun conversion devices, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. 

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge James Deir of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Detroit Field Division.

United States District Court Judge Shalina D. Kumar sentenced Yusef D. Hairston, 31,  following his guilty plea to illegal possession and transfer of a machinegun on June 5, 2024. A machinegun conversion device is a device that, when integrated with a semi-automatic firearm, converts the firearm into a fully automatic machinegun.  Under federal law, a machinegun conversion device is itself a machinegun. Judge Kumar also sentenced Hairston to two years of federal supervised release following his release from incarceration.

According to court records, in late 2022 and continuing into 2023, undercover ATF agents purchased various narcotics, firearms, and machinegun conversion devices from Dequan Hawkins.  Eventually, Hawkins introduced the undercover ATF agents to Hairston, whom Hawkins identified as his source-of-supply for the machinegun conversion devices.  Over the course of the next several months, Hairston sold the undercover ATF agents over 60 machinegun conversion devices.  During this same time, Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Patrol interdicted two shipments from China containing over 100 machinegun conversion devices destined for Hairston.   In total, Hairston was held responsible for possessing, importing, and selling over 200 machinegun conversion devices.

“Machinegun conversion devices serve one purpose—to turn semi-automatic firearms into machineguns. And machineguns are inherently dangerous firearms, designed solely to inflict maximum harm in minimal time.  There is simply no place for these dangerous weapons in our community,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. 

“Machinegun conversion devices pose a serious threat to our community’s safety and security. To be clear, these devices are NOT firearm accessories and are machineguns under federal law.” said ATF Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “Mr. Hairston made a choice to possess and profit from illegally modified firearms. In the end, I urge every Michigander contemplating experimenting with a machinegun conversion device to think twice about the serious consequences associated with this choice.  I know for a fact that Mr. Hairston will be pondering this exact thought while he spends a considerable amount of time in prison for choosing to possess a machinegun conversion device. These devices are a clear and present danger to public safety and will be investigated and prosecuted as such.”

This case was investigated by special agents of the ATF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Vance.

DETROIT - A Northville man was sentenced Tuesday to one year and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for providing a financial institution with false documentation in connection with a bank loan, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division

Theodore Toloff, 65, entered his guilty plea in January before United States District Judge David M. Lawson.

According to court records, Toloff served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Frank W. Kerr Company (“Kerr”), a now-defunct pharmaceutical wholesaler that was based in Novi, Michigan. Kerr had a revolving credit agreement with two large financial institutions under which the company borrowed funds up to $60 million pursuant to a calculation dependent on the company’s eligible accounts receivable and inventory. Toloff admitted that he submitted false documentation to the financial institutions that included $18 million in ineligible accounts receivable and that Kerr borrowed additional funds after this false documentation was submitted.   The Court found that Toloff’s criminal conduct caused Kerr’s lenders to sustain a loss of $1.3 million, which Toloff was also ordered to pay back to the lenders as restitution.

“Corporate executives should be held to the same standard of honesty as anyone else when they interact with lending institutions,” stated United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “When individuals lie to lenders, those lies cause loans to become more difficult and more expensive for honest consumers and businesses to access. My office is committed to ensuring that those who engage in dishonest financial crimes are held accountable.”

"The defendant admitted to providing false documents to a financial institution, undermining the laws and integrity of our financial systems, said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. "The FBI works tirelessly with our law enforcement partners and regulatory agencies to investigate those who commit financial crimes. If you believe you have information related to financial crimes, I urge the public to submit tips on alleged crimes such as those detailed in this case to 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of investigation.

DETROIT – A Walled Lake resident and former Certified Public Accountant pleaded guilty today to evading approximately $318,000 in federal income taxes, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Detroit Field Office.

Paul Kozowicz, 75, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. Kozowicz’s guilty plea arose out a scheme that, according to court papers, resulted in his intentional failure to report over 1.1 million dollars in taxable income to the Internal Revenue Service over a nine-year period.

According to the plea agreement, between approximately 2002 and 2011, Kozowicz worked as a full-time salaried employee providing accounting and financial services for a law firm in Birmingham, Michigan.  In 2011, that firm reorganized, and Kozowicz became a part-time employee of the firm, making approximately 20% of his previous salary. To replace his lost income, Kozowicz became an independent contractor and provided accounting and consulting services to several other businesses.

Kozowicz formed a corporation called “FACS, Inc.,” which purported to be the entity that provided these accounting and consulting services. Kozowicz opened a bank account in the name of FACS, and Kozowicz’s customers deposited their payments for Kozowicz’s services into that account.  However, Kozowicz did not declare any of the income he earned using the name FACS on any individual or corporate tax return between 2011 and 2019. Moreover, Kozowicz did not maintain any corporate books or records for FACS, nor did he observe or respect any other corporate formalities such as the State of Michigan’s annual corporate filing requirements.

In addition, according to the plea agreement, Kozowicz treated the monies deposited in the FACS account as his own, and used those monies freely for personal expenses and needs. Yet on his personal federal income tax returns the only income Kozowicz declared was his reduced law-firm salary and certain taxable social security receipts. FACS never filed a corporate tax return.  Kozowicz further admitted that between 2011 and 2019, he earned approximately $1.15 million in unreported income through FACS and evaded payment of approximately $318,243  in tax due and owing on that income.

“Paul Kozowicz chose to enrich himself at the expense of the public by willfully concealing over a million dollars in taxable income from the IRS. As a financial professional, Kozowicz knew better. My office takes seriously anyone who evades their obligation to pay taxes, and today’s conviction reflects our commitment to identify and prosecute such offenders,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.

“The license to run a business is not a license to avoid paying taxes,” said IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller. “Paul Kozowicz's blatant fraud, hiding income, and having his shell business pay his purely personal expenses, cheated all Americans, since we all pay our fair share for the government services and protections that we enjoy. CI remains dedicated to holding those accountable that refuse to play by the rules.”

Sentencing is set for January 21, 2025 before United States District Judge Stephen J. Murphy III. Kozowicz faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. He will be obligated to pay restitution of $318,243 to the IRS after sentencing.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John K. Neal. The investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Office.

DETROIT –A Holly man was sentenced yesterday to 85 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit.

In addition to the 85-year sentence, United States District Court Kay F. Behm sentenced Jeremy McCallum, 48, to 15 years of supervised release upon his release from prison.

According to court documents, on January 31, 2020, law enforcement searched McCallum’s home for child sexually abusive material. The search resulted in the recovery of hard copies and digital files depicting years-long, horrific sexual abuse of three minor children by McCallum. McCallum abused one minor female for the better part of a decade, documenting his abuse of her on VHS tape, on his cell phone, and in Polaroid pictures. He abused another minor female when she was an infant, recording his sexual abuse of her on VHS tape and on his cell phone. Finally, on a VHS tape, an FBI agent located an instance of sexual abuse that McCallum committed against a minor male.

Following years of litigation, McCallum pleaded guilty, on June 18, 2024, to all the charges in the indictment, including ten counts of the sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.

“This defendant committed monstrous crimes. This prosecution and sentence should send a strong message to child predators: you will suffer severe consequences if you harm our children,” said U.S. Attorney Ison.

"The despicable acts of sexual exploitation, especially against children, are amongst the most horrific crimes investigated by our office," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "The sentencing of Jeremy McCallum is a direct result of the collaborative efforts between the Michigan State Police and the FBI, Oakland County Resident Agency. This sentencing sends a clear and stern warning to those who believe they can prey on our most vulnerable population and evade justice. The successful prosecution by the United States Attorney's Office of Eastern Michigan is a crucial step in the healing process for those victimized by Mr. McCallum's deplorable and heinous actions."

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Michigan State Police.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Rawsthorne and Tara Hindelang.

DETROIT – United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison issued a public safety alert today advising the public to be vigilant to hurricane relief fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the public should be on guard against disaster fraud schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “As we often see when natural disasters occur, criminals will target those impacted and concerned citizens ready to lend a helping hand.  The Justice Department stands ready to hold those accountable who perpetrate this type of fraud.”

On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters will target victims of the storm along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by the storm. Unfortunately, criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions.

The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods. Before making a donation to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including:

• Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
• Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics.
• Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts), and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers.
• Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity.
• Beware of organizations with copy-cat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities.  
• Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals.
• Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in .org rather than .com.
• Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.

The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate, and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm. Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

DETROIT –The Justice Department announced today that NH Learning Solutions Corp. (NHLS) has agreed to pay $975,000 to resolve allegations in a lawsuit that it submitted false claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for inflated educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post-9/11 GI Bill).  The United States filed suit against NHLS under the False Claims Act (FCA) in December 2022, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.  Detroit-based NHLS provided technology-focused, non-college degree programs at locations across the Midwest and Northeast.

“The Post-9/11 GI Bill was designed to support the educational needs of our veterans, not to permit schools to illegally profit at the expense of the American taxpayers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.  “Today’s settlement shows that the Justice Department will hold schools accountable for violating program requirements and submitting inflated claims for payment.”

“The Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are part of our Nation’s promise to the brave men and women who have served our country,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “My office is committed to protecting the integrity of our federal programs to ensure the assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries.”

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the VA pays tuition and fees directly to qualifying schools on behalf of enrolled students.  For veteran students properly enrolled in a course, the VA pays the actual net cost for tuition and fees charged by the school, after it has applied any scholarships, waivers, grants or other assistance designed to defray the cost of tuition and fees, which is known as the “Last Payer Rule.” The Rule ensures that the VA is the payer of last resort and receives the benefit of any tuition-based, financial support available to a student.

The government’s amended complaint alleged that NHLS knowingly submitted false claims for inflated tuition and fees, in violation of the Last Payer Rule, at five NHLS locations in Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan.  More specifically, the government alleged that NHLS repeatedly reported tuition and fees to the VA on student invoices, where it failed to deduct the tuition scholarships, grants, or waivers it provided to certain veterans, thereby causing the VA to overpay NHLS for educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 GI-Bill for these veterans. 

“Safeguarding Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit funds reserved for deserving veterans remains a priority, and our investigators are working diligently in the field to ensure these programs are not exploited for financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the Justice Department for its efforts in this investigation.”

The lawsuit is captioned United States v. NH Learning Solutions Corp., No. 2:22-cv-13045 (E.D. Mich.). The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with substantive assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.

The United States was represented in this matter by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Wilson of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony C. Gentner of the Eastern District of Michigan. 

The claims asserted against defendant are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

DETROIT - The former President of Steelworkers, Local 2513, in Ypsilanti has pleaded guilty to embezzling over $58,000 in union funds, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. 

Joining Ison in the announcement is Thomas Murray, District Director of the Detroit-Milwaukee District Office of the Department of Labor-Office of Labor-Management Standards.

Dilanjan Miller, 37, pleaded guilty to the one count of bank fraud charged in an information filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. United States District Judge Laurie Michelson accepted his guilty plea and set the matter for sentencing on February 6, 2025.

According to the facts alleged in the information and further developed at the plea hearing, USW Local 2513 represented machine operators, inspectors, stock chasers, and rackers at Marsh Plating in Ypsilanti. Miller was elected President of Local 2513 in April 2018.  Miller also assumed all financial duties of Local 2513 as acting Financial Secretary and Treasurer. While President, Acting Financial Secretary, and Acting Treasurer of the union, Miller embezzled approximately $47,347 of union funds in the custody and control of the Bank of Ann Arbor by issuing approximately 38 unauthorized checks to himself and forging the signature of the second signatory on 20 of those checks; issuing approximately 4 unauthorized checks made payable to a family member; and making approximately 2 unauthorized cash withdrawals from the union’s bank account.

Miller also used the union’s Bank of Ann Arbor debit card as his own personal debit card. He made at least 184 unauthorized personal purchases, totaling approximately $11,259. His purchases with the union’s debit card included flights, hotel rooms, rental cars, and retail purchases. For example, Miller used the debit card to pay for five flights to Florida, Las Vegas, and Atlanta and for rental cars in Florida and Atlanta. Miller also used the debit card at a jewelry store and several footwear shops.

Miller is facing a maximum of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge.

U.S. Attorney Ison commended the work of the Department of Labor in conducting this criminal investigation of a corrupt union officer and said, “Union officials are expected to serve with integrity.  This prosecution demonstrates that we will not tolerate union officers who abuse their authority and line their own pockets at the expense of the union’s membership. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out corruption and fraud involving unions.”

“Dilanjan Miller violated the trust placed in him to be a good steward of union funds by embezzling over $58,000 from Steelworkers Local 2513 that should have been used for its members’ benefit,” said Thomas Murray, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards.  “OLMS is committed to holding accountable anyone who unlawfully exploits their position in a union for personal gain at the expense of their fellow union members.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Resnick Cohen. The investigation of this case was conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards. 

DETROIT – U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison today announced awards of $66,443,451 in Department of Justice grants to help support a variety of victim assistance programs, emergency management programs, and tribal governments. The grants awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs also included tools to reduce violent crime in the Eastern District of Michigan.

United States Attorney Ison stated, “These awards reflect the many ways that the Department of Justice is engaged to improve the lives of the residents of this District.  We are proud to support the work of our state, local, tribal, and community partners across our District and our whole state in a wide range of activities including reducing violent crime, assisting crime victims, supporting tribal governments, and protecting the rights of those who may have been wrongfully accused of crimes.”

Some of the recipients include:

Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.  The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan received $899,993.00.  The tribe is a federally recognized tribe located in central Michigan.  With this funding the tribe will implement supports for permanent supportive housing for residents in substance use disorder recovery.

County of Washtenaw, the City of Saginaw, Alternatives for Girls, Sisters Against Abuse Society, Eleven24 Inc., Human Development Commission, Underground Railroad and Sasha Center, Inc. all received awards, totaling nearly $3.8 million, to support community-based programs assisting victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

FORCE Detroit (Faithfully Organizing Resources for Community Empowerment).  FORCE Detroit is a culmination of interfaith, grassroots, and public sector leaders committed to having hard conversations about complex community issues.  FORCE Detroit received $1,999,998.00.  Through this award, FORCE Detroit will implement The Keepers community violence intervention (CVI) program in Detroit. The purpose is to expand and enhance evidence-based and innovative practices that reduce and prevent gun violence in the city’s Warrendale Cody Rouge neighborhood.

Common Ground.  Common Ground, nationally recognized as one of the most comprehensive crisis service agencies in the country, received $950,000.00.  Through this award, Common Ground Assistance Program will implement the Multi-County Comprehensive Services for Human Trafficking Victims project. The purpose of this project is to sustain, expand, and strengthen victim services for adult and youth human trafficking victims of all genders.

Holocaust Memorial Center.  The Holocaust Memorial Center received $1,100,000.00. The Center’s Security Sector and Law Enforcement Professional Education Program provides educational opportunities about the Holocaust and preventing atrocities to the specific needs of local and state security law enforcement agencies. Through this award, the Center’s program will increase outreach activities to develop new partnerships with security sector agencies resulting in at least 2,500 new participants from throughout the state.

County of Washtenaw.  The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office received funding to support the work of its Conviction Integrity and Expungement Unit, which investigates claims of actual innocence to determine whether new, credible, material evidence not previously addressed by any court supports those claims and supports expungement efforts in Washtenaw County.

University of Michigan.  In receiving two awards totaling just under $2 million, the University of Michigan will 1) research and evaluate on firearm violence and mass shootings by conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Safe Storage Campaign in schools across Michigan, and 2) conduct a study on community perception of safety in Detroit.

Michigan State University.  MSU received over $2 million for research and development in forensic science for criminal justice purposes.

City of Detroit.  The Detroit Police Department received $300,000 to expand its National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and Detroit Crime Gun Intelligence Center that has proven successful at establishing potential links between multiple crime scenes where the same firearm was used.

Michigan Health and Human Services (DHHS).  With this award DHHS will improve engagement with youth and family members throughout the juvenile justice system.

Michigan State Police (MSP). This award will help law enforcement agencies undertake the Mid-Michigan Law Enforcement Modernization Plan by will allow to make critical upgrades to equipment, technology, patrol vehicles and vessels.   

Genesee County.  The Global Human Oppression Strike Team (GHOST) is a critical piece of law enforcement working to protect communities from the threat of sexual predators.  Through this grant, GHOST will continue its efforts in combatting human trafficking and the opioid epidemic.

The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.

For the full list of organizations receiving funding please see attached.

About the Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and SMART Office – can be found at www.ojp.gov.

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN AWARDS

STATEWIDE GRANTS

DETROIT – Terry Pruitt, a conspirator in the sex and drug trafficking organization that operated out of the former Victory Inn hotel in Dearborn, Michigan, was sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison last week based on his conviction on drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Joining Ison in the announcement was Homeland Security Investigations Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar.

This sentencing is the final in the eight-year case in which the following defendants were sentenced to over 116 years collectively.

Darrick Dernard Bell – 28 years
Shelvie Lewis Avery – 19 years
Janette Gaggo Tawfik – 10 years
Michael Anthony Randol – 15 years
Bryant Edward Daugherty – 7 years 3 months
Charles Thomas Ford – 12 years
Harold Lashawn Nero – 9 years 7 months
Terry Pruitt – 15 years 8 months

Pruitt pleaded guilty in March 2021 to charges stemming from the operation of a large-scale drug and prostitution business operating out of the Victory Inn, a motel formerly located next to the main drag for prostitution on Michigan Avenue. Specifically, Pruitt, a longtime drug dealer, helped satiate the demand of the vulnerable human-trafficking victims for crack cocaine and heroin at the Victory Inn. Pruitt engaged in both drug and human trafficking at the motel while co-defendant Darrick Bell’s drug trafficking conspiracy essentially ran the Victory Inn.

“This final sentencing brings to an end the years-long investigation and prosecution of this pernicious drug and sex trafficking organization,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. I want to commend the hard work and dedication of the agents and prosecutors who worked so diligently to bring these individuals to justice.”

“This case spanned 8 years, and thanks to our U.S. Attorney’s office we have the sentencing of the final defendant,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “Throughout this investigation our agents and law enforcement partners remained steadfast in their commitment to those impacted by this criminal organization. I commend our law enforcement team for their perseverance in the pursuit of justice and their dedication to protecting our communities.”

The investigation was conducted by agents of Homeland Security Investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Roth, Jerome Gorgon, Blake Hatlem, and Lisandra Fernandez-Silber

DETROIT – United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today a series of three civil settlements, totaling over $8 million, related to, among other allegations, kickbacks that medical device company Ra Medical Systems, Inc. (Ra Medical), paid to various physicians across the country related to Ra Medical’s DABRA laser.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Chicago Regional Office, Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Northeast Field Office. 

Ra Medical was a medical device company that was formerly headquartered in Carlsbad, California.  From 2017-2019, Ra Medical manufactured and sold a device known as the DABRA Laser.  The settlement with Ra Medical resolves the following alleged violations of the False Claims Act:

• Ra Medical marketed the DABRA Laser for use in atherectomies, a procedure whereby plaque is mechanically removed from occluded blood vessels in patients suffering from peripheral artery disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, had not approved the DABRA Laser for use in atherectomy procedures.
• Additionally, Ra Medical knowingly marketed the DABRA Laser despite product performance issues causing frequent calibration and overheating problems, which posed a risk to physicians and patients, and prompted a recall in August 2019.
• Ra Medical also knowingly offered and paid illegal remuneration to certain physicians to induce them to use the DABRA Laser in violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The United States contends that the illegal remuneration consisted of cash payments and fees paid in connection with purported training events and consulting services. The United States further contends that RMS tracked utilization of its high-volume physician customers using an internal document titled “Who Deserve[] Love,” which was used to identify physicians that RMS should target with offers of improper remuneration. Two of the recipients of the alleged kickback payments were Elias Kassab, M.D. (Kassab), of Dearborn, Michigan, and David Allie, M.D. (Allie), of Lafayette, Louisiana.

The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering or paying anything of value to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare and other federally funded programs.  The statute is intended to ensure that a medical provider’s judgment is not compromised by improper financial incentives.

Under the terms of the agreement with Ra Medical, which was entered into pursuant to DOJ’s inability to pay settlement guidelines and was executed in December 2020, Ra Medical paid $2.5 million up front and would pay up to $28 million more if future financial contingencies were met.  In January 2023, Ra Medical paid an additional $5 million, after its reverse merger with Catheter Precision, Inc., triggered one of the contingencies.

The settlement with Ra Medical remained under seal while the United States continued its investigation into Kassab and Allie, among others, who were alleged to have received improper kickbacks.  In a separate settlement, Kassab and two of his companies agreed to pay $450,000 to resolve the allegations against them.  In the third settlement, Allie and his consulting company agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve the allegations against them.

“The United States will not allow doctors to hold out their hands expecting to be paid to use and promote a device,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “The millions of people who depend on our federal healthcare programs deserve and expect medical decisions untainted by kickbacks, and this settlement reflects our commitment to pursuing not just the companies that pay illegal kickbacks, but also the physicians who willingly extract and accept them.”

“The payment of kickbacks to induce referrals can undermine the trust in our nation’s providers and result in costly reductions to our federal health care programs," said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to ensure the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.”

“Healthcare services are being unlawfully influenced by medical providers engaging in criminal kickback schemes, significantly impacting programs such as Medicare and Medicaid," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "Our office is fully committed to investigating and holding accountable those individuals and organizations involved in illegal profit-driven practices that harm our medical system.”

“Protecting TRICARE, the healthcare system for military members and their dependents, is a top priority for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General," stated Special Agent-in-Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office.  "The settlement agreement announced today demonstrates our ongoing commitment to work with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate allegations of healthcare fraud.”

The civil settlements resolve the claims brought by Robert Gruber, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act.  Under these provisions, a private party may file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.  The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Gruber v. Ra Medical Systems, Inc., et al., No. 19-12044 (E.D. Mich.).  The whistleblower will receive a combined $1,722,000 from the three settlements.  The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only; there has been no determination or admission of liability.

The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonny Zajac of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from HHS-OIG, the FBI, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

DETROIT – The former Mayor of the City of Inkster pleaded guilty to bribery, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Patrick Wimberly, 50, of Inkster, served as the Mayor of the City of Inkster, Michigan, from 2019 through 2023. In the spring of 2022, Wimberly demanded $100,000 in cash payments to facilitate the sale of property owned by the City to an outside party (referred to as “Person A”). Over several months, Person A provided Wimberly with monthly cash bribes to secure the purchase of this property. The monthly payments started at $5,000 but the parties agreed to eventually increase that amount. After the initial bribes, Wimberly explained that he was ready to increase the payments. Person A agreed. But when Person A later did not provide the amount Wimberly expected, Wimberly complained that he was due “10$ a month.” Person A then increased the monthly payments to $10,000. In total, Person A provided $50,000 in cash to Wimberly for the purpose of winning the bid for subject property. The Federal Bureau of Investigation intervened before the property could be transferred to Person A.

The bribery charge, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

“Public officials who act in their own best interests, motivated by greed, betray the trust of their communities and the general public,” United States Attorney Ison said. “ We will continue to aggressively prosecute corrupt public officials for their illegal actions.”

“Investigating public corruption is a primary concern and priority of the FBI in Michigan,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. The former City of Inkster mayor, Patrick Wimberly’s guilty plea is a step forward in reminding public officials that they will be held accountable for their actions and should always operate with the highest level of integrity. Members of the FBI’s Detroit Area Corruption Task Force will continue to investigate any allegations of criminal misconduct from our public officials, in an effort to maintain the public’s trust.”

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown.

U.S. Department of Justice and Hartland Consolidated School District Extend Agreement to Protect Students from Racial Harassment

Today, the United States Department of Justice entered into a two-year agreement with Hartland Consolidated School District to strengthen Hartland’s ongoing response to allegations of student-on-student racial harassment.

In July 2022, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan entered into a letter of resolution with Hartland to resolve an investigation into student-on-student harassment. The underlying complaint alleged that Hartland failed to address pervasive race-based harassment of black students in the district. Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 authorizes the Department of Justice to address complaints that a school is depriving students of equal protection based on race, color, and other protected characteristics. Hartland cooperated fully with the investigation.

Through the July 2022 letter of resolution, Hartland voluntarily agreed to take several steps to address concerns raised during the investigation. As described in that letter, the Department of Justice reviewed Hartland’s compliance at the end of the 2022-23 school year. The Department of Justice determined that the compliance period should be extended for an additional two years to continue Hartland’s efforts. Under the new agreement, Hartland will also take additional steps during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.

The extension agreement builds on Hartland’s previous efforts, adding more training for staff to identify and respond to racial harassment. Hartland also agreed to conduct age-appropriate, district-wide training programs for students, focused on preventing racial harassment and improving the school environment. Hartland further agreed to enhance its logging and response to allegations of racial harassment and to provide supportive measures to any affected students.

“I applaud the measures already taken by Hartland to address student-on-student racial harassment, but more needs to be done. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with Hartland to strengthen their response to racial harassment,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “We commend Hartland Consolidated School District for its willingness to improve the learning environment for all students.”

“Our public schools have a duty to foster a safe and welcoming learning environment for students,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “No student should have to endure racial slurs, derogatory treatment, or threats in a school. Racial harassment undermines a student’s chance to succeed and has no place in our Nation’s schools.”

The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunita Doddamani of the Civil Rights Unit of the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan was established in 2010 with the mission of prioritizing federal civil rights enforcement. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s civil rights efforts, including a copy of the Extension Agreement with the Hartland Consolidated School District, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/programs/civil-rights. Civil rights complaints may be emailed to [email protected] or by contacting the U.S. Attorney's Office’s civil rights hotline at (313) 226-9151.

The Educational Opportunities Section of the Civil Rights Division leads enforcement of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Additional information about the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.  Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Division at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/. 

DETROIT – McLaren Health Care Corporation (McLaren) has agreed to enter into a Settlement Agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan to resolve its investigation under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. McLaren owns and operates multiple hospitals and outpatient health centers throughout the state of Michigan, including through its subsidiary, the Karmanos Cancer Institute. The U.S. Attorney’s Office opened the investigation into McLaren after receiving complaints about the provision at multiple facilities of auxiliary aids and services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. McLaren fully cooperated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation.

The settlement agreement requires McLaren to provide auxiliary aids and services free of charge to ensure effective communication with their patients and their companions, consistent with the ADA. Under the terms of the settlement, McLaren will provide a combined $220,000 in monetary relief to fourteen affected individuals. McLaren will also review its policies and, as necessary, revise its policies to be consistent with the ADA’s requirements regarding effective communication and the terms of the settlement agreement. McLaren will enhance existing notices within their facilities to clearly alert patients and their companions of the availability of ASL interpreters or other auxiliary aids and services free of charge. Furthermore, McLaren will contract with additional vendors to provide both virtual and in-person interpretive services as needed. McLaren will also train its staff on its updated policies and will report any future complaints from individuals who have disabilities to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“It is critical that patients who are deaf or hard of hearing have the ability to communicate effectively with their health care providers,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said. “McLaren and its staff provide medical services to individuals throughout Michigan, including many rural areas with limited access to care. Therefore, I am especially proud of this resolution and what it means for equal access to health care.”

The investigation was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael El-Zein and Sunita Doddamani of the Civil Rights Unit.

For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or visit www.ada.gov.

Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination or experienced a civil rights violation can submit a complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan by email at [email protected] or by phone at (313) 226-9151. Complaints can also be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division through its complaint portal.

An indictment was unsealed today charging nine individuals with conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

U.S. Attorney Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto, of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
Charged in the indictment are: Dr. Charles Wasson, 70, Orchard Lake, MI Dr. Maurice Potts, 65, Detroit, MI
Dr. Bruce Kaplan, 83, Commerce Township, MI
Sharlene Dawson (aka Sharlene Crawford), 55, Detroit, MI Desiree King, 41, Sterling Heights, MI
Lanise Gortman, 53, Warren, MI Aaron Thomas, 42, Southfield, MI Valecia Logan, 33, Detroit, MI and Antoine Arnold, 38, Mt. Clemens, MI

The indictment alleges that from June 2021 through September 2024, Sharlene Dawson (aka Sharlene Crawford), owner of P&A Aftercare, located in Southfield, Michigan, hired Drs. Charles Wasson, Maurice Potts, and Bruce Kaplan to issue controlled substance prescriptions for a cadre of “fake” patients, without medical necessity and outside the usual course of professional medical practice, in exchange for cash payments. According to the indictment, the “fake” patients were recruited by Lanise Gortman, Aaron Thomas, Valecia Logan, and Antoine Arnold. These recruiters would fill the prescription at area pharmacies and sell the controlled substances on the street. The indictment further alleges that Desiree King ran the front office at P&A Aftercare and worked closely with the recruiters to facilitate the issuance of the controlled substance prescriptions.
The primary prescription controlled substances illegally prescribed by the doctors named in the indictment included Schedule II controlled substances Oxycodone, Oxycodone-Acetaminophen (Percocet), and Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen (Norco). While most of the unlawful controlled substance prescriptions were paid for in cash, both controlled and non-controlled

“maintenance” medications were billed to health care benefit programs by pharmacies. It is also alleged that billings to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for medically unnecessary prescription drug medications and maintenance medications during this conspiracy exceeded
$20 million.

The case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisandra Fernandez-Silber and Regina R. McCullough. The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the twelve districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit, a Department of Justice initiative to combat the opioid epidemic.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
 

DETROIT – A Farmington Hills man was sentence to 8 years in prison for conspiring to steal Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from a lot in Pontiac yesterday, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. The charges stem from an investigation initiated by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Auto Theft Unit.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Sheriff Michael Bouchard of Oakland County.

In April, after a 13-day trial, a jury convicted Romane Porter, 47, of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles and transportation of stolen vehicles. The evidence presented during trial showed that for approximately six months in 2017, Porter and co-defendant Daniel Onorati conspired with each other and others to steal approximately 61 recalled Volkswagen and Audi cars that were parked at the site of the former Pontiac Silverdome.

“This defendant orchestrated a large-scale conspiracy to brazenly steal recalled vehicles and sell them across state lines,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This sentence reflects the seriousness with which we address fraud, and the work done to achieve the result in this case further demonstrates the strong collaboration and coordination between our local and federal law enforcement partners.”

In addition to the 97-month sentence, U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood ordered Porter to pay

$683,080 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release upon release from prison.

"The sentencing of Romane Porter sends a stark reminder that those individuals who conspire to commit fraud and theft, will face the highest penalties under the law,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The joint investigative work of the FBI's Detroit Fraud & Financial Crimes Task Force, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Auto Theft unit, and the diligent prosecution from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Michigan, disrupted an elaborate theft scheme orchestrated by this bad actor. The FBI in Michigan will continue to investigate and arrest individuals who engage in criminal acts.”

“I am grateful for the partnership between our Auto Theft Unit, the FBI, and the US Attorney’s Office who brought this organized auto theft activity to a close,” said Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard. “These individuals were bold in their behavior in stealing such a large volume of vehicles from a well-known location. These criminals deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Auto Theft Unit. The team was also assisted by the Special Investigations Section, Office of Investigative Services of the Michigan Department of State, as well as the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Trevor Broad and Louis Meizlish

ONE DETROIT PARTNERSHIP RELEASES RESULTS OF

ENHANCED SUMMER ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS

DETROIT – Today, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison, along with Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison, Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney Kym Worthy and Detroit Police Chief James E. White reported on the ongoing violence reduction work being done by the One Detroit Violence Reduction Partnership and announced the results of that work as of Labor Day. One Detroit is a coalition of community and law enforcement partners working together to develop and execute the best strategies to reduce violent crime.

Joining in the announcement were the One Detroit Executive Team, which includes Alvin Stokes, President, Citywide Citizens Police Community Relations, Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, Bishop Edgar Vann, II, Second Ebenezer Church, Special Agent in Charge James Deir, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kenyatta Stephens, CEO Black Family Development, Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division, Beverly Smith, Assistant Deputy Director, Operations Office, Michigan Department of Corrections, Bishop Daryl Harris, from Ceasefire Detroit, and Dr. Chris Melde from Michigan State University.

Results

The One Detroit Violence Reduction Partnership continues to work year-round to lower the amount of violence in the city. This work is organized into three pillars: prevention, enforcement, and reentry.

As a result of the work done throughout the city, in 2023, Detroit finished the year with the lowest number of homicides since 1957. This year, as of Labor Day, the city of Detroit has had 20% fewer homicides than last year at this time. The reduction in non-fatal shootings is even more dramatic—an almost 25% drop in non-fatal shootings. In terms of lives impacted, this means that there have been 182 fewer victims of violence in Detroit than there were at this time a year ago.

Summer Initiative

The One Detroit partners again worked together to address violence during the summer months, focusing particularly on the 8th and 9th precincts and the city’s parks. The initiative began on Memorial Day and ended on Labor Day.  One part of the effort was an enforcement strategy designed to prosecute the most violent individuals in federal court when that was possible. This effort resulted in 23 cases being accepted for prosecution in federal court. All of those cases involved the illegal possession of firearms. During the investigations of these offenses, 26 guns were seized. ATF has now analyzed those guns and determined that 14 of them were crime guns linked through ballistics to 42 other crimes including non-fatal shootings and a homicide.

The One Detroit partnership also engaged in preventing crime in the targeted areas through Peacenics, a collective gathering of the community and law enforcement where we shared in food, fellowship, and fun in the name of peace.  The events featured 70 vendors offering a variety of resources, including job training, literacy programs, mental health and medical screenings, utility assistance, educational and vocational opportunities, tutorial, and career development.  The Peacenics allowed residents to have fun, engage with law enforcement, and obtain resources to improve the quality of their lives. Thousands of Detroit residents attended the two Peacenics held in O’Hair Park and at Heilmann Recreation Center.

Finally, the One Detroit partnership also focused on reentry as a way of preventing recidivism by empowering returning citizens to become stable, contributing members of the Detroit community.  So far, more than 170 returning citizens participated in community roundtables intended to provide motivation and insight about taking advantage of second chances after a criminal conviction.  At the events, family members of probationers were also invited to participate in breakout sessions to discuss barriers to stability. One Detroit partners also assisted with employment needs and helped connect attendees with resources.

United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison stated, “Make no mistake, violent crime is down. It is down dramatically. This is great news and shows that we are moving in the right direction. But please don’t mistake this for a celebration. The amount of violence in this city is still unacceptable. And we will not stop this work until we can make every neighborhood in Detroit safe from violence.”

Deputy Mayor Bettison stated, “The One Detroit Partnership continues to be effective at bringing all stakeholders to the table. U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison has led this effort at bringing federal, state, local, community, and religious organizations to address violent crime on the east and west side of Detroit. After three years of this partnership, we continue to see violent crime decrease year after year. Violent crime in the City of Detroit is at historic lows, and the numbers haven’t been this low since the 1960’s.”

“I want to thank U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison and our One Detroit partners for their work to make Detroit safer this summer,” said Chief James E. White. “We continue to see results from addressing violence with multiple layers of strategy and community partnership, and look forward to future work together to improve on our success.”

“There will always be people who will criticize efforts to reduce crime in Detroit,” said Prosecutor Kym Worthy. “We must be undeterred as we continue to drive down gun crime and other violent crimes.  We will continue to work as partners with our local, state and federal agencies to protect our communities. We must also ensure that community prevention programs are continued and supported.  This is an equally important part of what we are doing.”

The One Detroit Partnership will be holding Community Huddles to report these results to the residents in the 8th and 9th Precincts in the upcoming weeks. The dates of the Community Huddles are:

• 8th Precinct, September 30th, at 6:30 P.M.
• 9th Precinct, September 25th, at 6:00 P.M.