Whitmer names new chief legal counsel
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has selected Alexis Blane to serve as acting chief legal counsel for the executive office as Christina Grossi takes a new opportunity outside of state government.
“Christina Grossi is a skilled legal mind and lifelong public servant who has fought for Michiganders in every community throughout her career,” said Governor Whitmer. “She protected people’s fundamental rights and freedoms from assaults on their reproductive care, ensuring they could make their own decisions about their own bodies. As a member of my team, she’s led our legal strategy and helped
coordinate crisis response for natural disasters, upholding our laws, and keeping people safe. I can’t say enough about the lasting difference she has made for our state. I wish Christina the best.”
Alexis Blane joined the executive office in 2022 as special counsel, leading the office’s work on reproductive rights, education, and economic development. Prior to serving in the governor’s office, she was the principal deputy counsel and acting counsel to the Mayor of New York City from 2018-21. Blane also has worked in the nonprofit space and at the U.S. Department of State. She attended New York University Law School and holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar
“Christina Grossi is a skilled legal mind and lifelong public servant who has fought for Michiganders in every community throughout her career,” said Governor Whitmer. “She protected people’s fundamental rights and freedoms from assaults on their reproductive care, ensuring they could make their own decisions about their own bodies. As a member of my team, she’s led our legal strategy and helped
coordinate crisis response for natural disasters, upholding our laws, and keeping people safe. I can’t say enough about the lasting difference she has made for our state. I wish Christina the best.”
Alexis Blane joined the executive office in 2022 as special counsel, leading the office’s work on reproductive rights, education, and economic development. Prior to serving in the governor’s office, she was the principal deputy counsel and acting counsel to the Mayor of New York City from 2018-21. Blane also has worked in the nonprofit space and at the U.S. Department of State. She attended New York University Law School and holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar
Man pleads guilty to filing false tax return for business
A Michigan man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to filing a false tax return for his international vehicle shipping business along with not paying taxes on cash wages he paid to his employees.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ali Kassem Kain owned and operated a business called Specialized Overseas Shipping that arranged for vehicles to be shipped to West Africa and other destinations for third parties. For tax years 2017 through 2020, Kain underreported the company’s gross receipts by $6.4 million on the business’ tax returns. Kain also did not collect and pay over to the IRS taxes on $249,000 in cash wages he paid to his employees.
Kain faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the employment tax offense and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. District Court Judge Matthew F. Leitman, Eastern District of Michigan, scheduled sentencing for Aug. 14.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI Detroit Field Office are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard J. Kelley and Jeffrey A. McLellan of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ali Kassem Kain owned and operated a business called Specialized Overseas Shipping that arranged for vehicles to be shipped to West Africa and other destinations for third parties. For tax years 2017 through 2020, Kain underreported the company’s gross receipts by $6.4 million on the business’ tax returns. Kain also did not collect and pay over to the IRS taxes on $249,000 in cash wages he paid to his employees.
Kain faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the employment tax offense and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. District Court Judge Matthew F. Leitman, Eastern District of Michigan, scheduled sentencing for Aug. 14.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI Detroit Field Office are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard J. Kelley and Jeffrey A. McLellan of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
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