Michael Mitchell, Theft, Michigan 2016

A shocking case of theft has rocked the small town of Plymouth, Michigan, as a former official has been charged with stealing over $10,000 worth of equipment from the local government.

The defendant, Michael Mitchell, 49, of Rockford, IL, served as the Director of Parks and Grants for Plymouth Township before being charged with one count of theft from a local government receiving federal assistance.

According to the Information filed against him, Mitchell stole property belonging to the township, including a commercial lawnmower, a John Deer Gator utility vehicle, and other equipment, in October of 2016.

Mitchell faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 if convicted. The case is part of a wide-ranging corruption investigation centered in Macomb County, Michigan.

The investigation into Mitchell's actions was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Plymouth Township Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Michael Bullotta.

United States Attorney Matthew Schneider expressed his commitment to fighting corruption in government, stating, 'When public officials use their jobs to steal from taxpayers, their theft isn’t just measured in dollars - it is measured by the damage caused by robbing the public of honest government.'

Jeffrey E. Peterson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the FBI, echoed Schneider's sentiments, saying, 'Today’s charges of Mr. Mitchell should reassure the citizens of Michigan that the FBI and members of our Detroit Area Public Corruption task force are committed to holding public officials at all levels of government accountable for their actions if they decide to break the law.'

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/former-plymouth-township-parks-and-grants-director-charged-theft