Ex-prosecutor gets 21 months in prison
MOUNT CLEMENS (AP) — Former Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for obstructing justice during an investigation of how he spent campaign donations.
Smith's punishment matched the recommendation of federal prosecutors.
Smith, a Democrat, was the county's elected prosecutor until quitting in disgrace in 2020 after 15 years, tarnished by state and federal investigations.
“Motivated by greed, he used his position to line his pockets with money that did not belong to him, and worse yet, to force others to lie to law enforcement for him,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moran said in a court filing.
Between 2012 and 2020, Smith conducted two fraud schemes to steal some $75,000 in cash from his political campaign for personal expenses, federal investigators said.
He admitted he attempted to get three people, including two assistant prosecutors, to make false statements about his use of campaign cash. Smith pleaded guilty a year ago.
Separately, Smith is charged in state court with embezzlement and other crimes related to a different scheme to use money from drunken driving cases, bad check cases and assets forfeited in drug crimes.
He was ordered to trial last week.
MMLA schedules Happy Hour
The Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association (MMLA) Southeast Chapter will kick-off the New Year with a Networking Happy Hour at the Fifth Avenue patio in Royal Oak on Wednesday, March 3, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Attendees will be able to make new industry connections and learn more about what being an MMLA member can offer while enjoying good food, drinks, and familiar faces.
Tickets are $20 each and MMLA members get 1 free pass for an industry guest of their choice. Appetizers and one drink ticket for beer or wine per person will be provided.
Fifth Avenue’s outdoor patio is tented and well heated throughout. It is located at 215 West Fifth Street in Royal Oak.
To register, visit mmla.net and click on “events.”
PAAM offers victim advocate training
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan will present Victim Advocate Basic Training online Monday through Friday, March 14-18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. via Zoom.
The five-day, 40 hour training is designed to equip new advocates with basic level proficiency in comprehensive victim advocacy service provision. This training is intended for prosecutor based victim advocates.
To register, visit www.michiganprosecutor.org and click on “training.”
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