Posted on 03/27/2020 2:27:49 AM PDT by equaviator
-Smith charged in connection with alleged misuse of county forfeiture funds
MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith has been hit with 10 criminal corruption charges -- including running a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony -- in connection with the alleged misuse of county forfeiture funds.
Smith faces considerable jail time if he’s found guilty, but the case reaches far beyond the prosecutor. He’s accused of turning the top law enforcement office in the state’s third-most populated county into a criminal enterprise.
After the state raided Smith’s office last April, and then his home a month later, Smith said, “I recognize, you know, this does not look great.”
On Tuesday, Smith was charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, five counts of embezzlement by a public official, misconduct in office, tampering with evidence, accessory after the fact and conspiracy to commit forgery.
State officials allege Smith’s right-hand man, current Prosecutor’s Office operations manager and former Macomb County state representative and county treasurer Derek Miller, committed misconduct in office and conspiracy to commit a legal act in an illegal manner with Smith.
Retired Prosecutor’s Office employee Benjamin Liston is also charged, as is William Weber Jr., who owns a security company.
The scene began with a fight over who could manage a forfeiture account, officials said. Smith claimed it was his and allegedly refused to turn over records to the county, according to authorities.
That got Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel’s attention, and he called on the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.
“I was surprised by the number of charges, but not that charges were brought,” Hackel said.
In the end, Smith turned over money to the county, but not the records.
“Smith and corhorts elected to utilize these accounts as their own personal slush funds spent in order to enrich themselves or others to build good will in the community as Smith would seek re-election,” Attorney General Dana Nessle said.
The case dates back to 2012 and involves $600,000, according to the attorney general.
Hackel gave credit Tuesday to county treasurer Larry Rocca, who originally fought with Smith over the forfeiture fund records.
Hackel said Miller refused when given the opportunity to get the records.
Arraignments Weber was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in front of Southfield 46th District Court Judge Cynthia Arvant via video from the Michigan State Police North Metro Post.
He was released on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond and ordered not to have contact with his co-defendants or travel outside the state. He also has to surrender his passport to District 4B probation within 48 hours, officials said.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for May 19.
Smith, Miller and Liston are scheduled to be arraigned via video from the Michigan State Police North Metro Post at 10 a.m. Friday.
Mueller is giving prosecutors a bad rap?
Weismann?
Where do these creeps come from?
No, it isn’t. From the article: “He was released on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond”
I type corrected, that was another defendant released on bond. My mistake, sorry.
Mayor Eric Garcetti of LA, Hold ma beer! Ya piker
Aren’t they all?
There is probably a connection between drive and corruption. I don’t understand it myself how somebody, with a lifetime job, that earns 100,000+ can be prone to being corrupted on top.
if you have a job like his, and you aren’t scamming it for all its worth, for yourself and your “fellow travelers “ , then you haven’t any integrity.
“Integrity”, based on how well you “play the game”.
I hope this is not payback for Hackels dad who did jail time after beingbremoved as County Sheriff. This use of forfeiture funds has been going on for years. I have it on good sourcing that others have used it for retirement parties, birthdays and various other office activities.
Guess we will have to see how this plays out.
Trump should make an example out of this case by mentioning it along with some of the good things happening in Macomb County.
“I don’t understand it myself “
It’s not to complex.”Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Lord Acton
I used to live in Macomb County. I remember seeing Smith jogging wearing his own campaign T-Shirt well after he won. I kind of thought it to be a pretty low class Hey, Look at ME deal.
Thanks equaviator. Maybe I missed it, but I don't see anything in the article about his party affiliation, which ALWAYS means, he's a Democrat.
Democrat Eric Smith is claiming that the state government is doing this as a political thing.
The Michigan state executive branch (law enforcement) is Democrats [Gretchen Whitmer and Dana Nessel].
Smith and his crew were probably being investigated before Whitmer and her crew were elected.
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