County prosecutor charged with running a slush fund
MOUNT CLEMENS (AP) — Authorities charged Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith with corruption Tuesday, alleging he ran a criminal enterprise and embezzled cash for country club catering, home security cameras and other perks.
Smith, the chief law enforcer in Michigan’s third-largest county, had repeatedly declared his innocence while state police spent months poring over documents and canceled checks.
Smith tapped accounts that held money from drunken driving cases, bad check cases and assets forfeited in drug crimes, according to the attorney general's office. In 2018, he closed bank accounts and turned over $233,000 to the county, finally meeting the demands of the treasurer.
“Without public trust, justice stands no chance against reckless abuses of power,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said in announcing the charges.
Smith, a Democrat who was first elected in 2004, is charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, embezzlement, forgery and accessory after the fact. The alleged scheme dating back to 2012 totaled $600,000.
Smith couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. As speculation about charges emerged Monday, he released a statement defending himself and insisting the money was “spent appropriately.”
The money should have been under the control of the county and used for such things as victim restitution, law enforcement training and communications equipment, the attorney general’s office said.
Instead, Smith and others used money to buy “flowers and makeup for select secretaries, a security system for Smith’s residence, garden benches for staffers’ homes, country club catering for parties, campaign expenditures and more,” the state said.
Three other people were charged: Smith’s former operations chief, the current chief and a local businessman.
Order temporarily prevents evictions
An executive order issues by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer allows tenants and mobile home owners to remain in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic even if they are unable to stay current on their rent.
The order, effective through April 17, also relieves courts from certain statutory restrictions to enable them to stay eviction-related proceedings until after the COVID-19 emergency has passed.
“Families across the state are facing a number of uncertainties, from concerns about their health and well-being and that of their loved ones to when their next paycheck will arrive. Worrying about whether they’ll be evicted from their home, apartment or mobile home should not be on this list,” Whitmer said. “This executive order will ease a burden on families struggling to make ends meet and allow them to focus on what’s most important — staying safe and healthy.”
“We continue to urge all Michigan families to remain focused on putting their health first and making smart decisions to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Jeff Donofrio, director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “This order, in addition to (last) Wednesday’s order extending the tax foreclosure deadline, will give renters and homeowners some peace of mind.”
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