The former Director of Parks and Grants for Plymouth Township, Michael Mitchell, 49, of Rockford, IL, was charged today by Information with one count of theft from a local government receiving federal assistance, United States Attorney Matthew Schneider announced. 

Schneider was joined in the announcement by Jeffery E. Peterson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Thomas Tiderington, Plymouth Township Chief of Police.

According to the Information, in October of 2016, while serving as the Director of Parks and Grants for Plymouth Township, Mitchell stole property belonging to the township, including a commercial lawnmower, a John Deer Gator utility vehicle, and other equipment, with a total value of about $10,000.  Mitchell faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

United States Attorney Schneider stated, “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.  We will stand up and fight this corruption at all levels.” 

"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,” said Jeffrey E. Peterson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Division of the FBI. 

"I would encourage anyone with information about potential public corruption in Michigan to contact the Detroit FBI’s Public Corruption tip line at 313-965-2222 or our main number 313-965-2323.”

This case is part of the government’s wide-ranging corruption investigation centered in Macomb County, Michigan.  The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Plymouth Township Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Michael Bullotta.