Guilty plea suddenly called off in major Detroit nonprofit theft
DETROIT (AP) — Lawyers for a man accused of stealing more than $40 million from a prominent Detroit nonprofit group suddenly postponed his guilty plea during a court hearing Monday. William Smith, who for years controlled finances at the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, told a judge that he was prepared to plead guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. A prosecutor then described key points in the plea agreement, including a possible prison term of more than 15 years. But after a brief recess, and private discussions by both sides, Smith’s attorney, Gerald Evelyn, returned to court and said more time was needed. No one disclosed the reason, and no new court date was set. Smith, 52, was arrested in June. Investigators said he routinely used money from the Riverfront Conservancy to pay credit card bills for travel, hotels, limousines, household goods, clothing and jewelry. U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison has said the fraud was “astonishing in scale.”
Is Detroit Safe? Crime Rates, Safe Places, and Visitor Tips
Detroit, known as “Motor City”, is one of the largest cities in the Midwest. It has seen its share of ups and downs over the years. Once a booming hub of the automotive industry, the city thrived on the success of the Big Three automakers—Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. However, due to rising global competition,… Continue reading Is Detroit Safe? Crime Rates, Safe Places, and Visitor Tips
What Could Have Been – Residents Lament Near Total Lack of Water Access in Metro Detroit
Touching 4 Great Lakes, Michigan is a Water Wonderland - even the license plates will tell you. But there is one corner of Michigan where access to the water is more aspirational then a natural born right of Michiganders. That's the area around Detroit where public access to the region's water is limited by industry and private development.