Michigan Attorney General
State Government: Executive Offices | Attorney General / Department of Justice
Recent News About Michigan Attorney General
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East Lansing caregiver sentenced for role in freezing death
LANSING — Yesterday, Colleen Kelly O’Connor, 58, of East Lansing, was sentenced to two years of probation with the first six months in jail by Judge Cori E. Barkman of the 29th Circuit Court in Clinton County for her role in the death of an 82-year-old woman in December 2022, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. O’Connor was convicted in June by a Clinton County jury of one count of Vulnerable Adult Abuse — Second Degree. The victim, who was under O’Connor’s care at Vista Springs Imperial Park at Timber Ridge, an assisted living facility in Clinton County, died of... -
Burtchville woman sentenced for embezzling over $86K from elderly ward
Lisa Marie Tramski, 57, of Burtchville, was sentenced to one year of probation by Judge Daniel A. Damman in the 31st Circuit Court in St. Clair County after paying $51,600.75 in restitution, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Tramski pled guilty in July to one count of embezzlement of $50,000 or more but less than $100,000 for embezzling funds from an elderly woman after becoming her court-appointed guardian. -
Attorney General Nessel marks one year since launch of Address Confidentiality Program
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the YWCA Kalamazoo hosted a roundtable discussion today to mark the first anniversary of the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP). The program aims to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, or those who fear that disclosing their physical address will increase their risk of harm. -
Ann Arbor woman to stand trial for alleged PPP loan fraud
LANSING – Yulonda Eckel, 56, of Ann Arbor, has waived her preliminary examination and will stand trial in the 22nd Circuit Court in Washtenaw County for allegedly fraudulently obtaining two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $41,000. The announcement was made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. -
Ithaca woman faces trial for alleged embezzlement from vulnerable adult
Cheryl Colburn, 65, of Ithaca, has been bound over to stand trial in the 8th Circuit Court in Montcalm County on one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult, $1,000 - $20,000, a 5-year felony. The announcement was made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Colburn, who served as the professional guardian and conservator of the victim, was charged in July for allegedly keeping the victim’s property for her own benefit. -
Minards to stand trial on multiple charges for misappropriating funds
LANSING – Today, in the 54B District Court in East Lansing, Chief Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt bound over Anne and Robert (Rob) Minard of Bath Township to stand trial in the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County. They are accused of allegedly misappropriating funds from three non-profits and a Political Action Committee tied to former Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The charges were filed in December 2023. -
Attorney General concludes review charging eleven after university protest incidents
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today the conclusion of her department’s review of protest incidents at the University of Michigan (UM) campus, resulting in criminal charges for 11 individuals, mostly students and alumni. -
Richland woman sentenced for stalking Barry County prosecutors
LANSING – Yesterday, Rita Williams, 37, of Richland, was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered not to have any contact or attempt to contact prosecutors at the Barry County Prosecutor’s Office by the Honorable William M. Doherty in the 56B District Court in Hastings for sending hundreds of emails and voicemail messages to them, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Williams pled no contest earlier this year to one count of stalking and one count of using a computer to commit a crime. Judge Doherty warned Williams that any violation of the no-contact... -
Attorney General closes Michigan State University investigation
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the closure of the Department’s investigation into Michigan State University (MSU) related to the sexual abuse scandal involving a former MSU employee. The investigation was reopened after receiving over 6,000 documents that had been previously withheld by the University until earlier this year. -
Michigan lawmakers introduce bills targeting price gouging during emergencies
LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, state Senators Jeremy Moss and Mary Cavanaugh, and state Representatives Jason Hoskins and Laurie Pohutsky participated in a roundtable to highlight Senate Bills 954-956 and House Bills 5895-5897. The legislative package aims to strengthen protections against price gouging during an emergency declaration or a market disruption. -
Oakland County man sentenced for defrauding small businesses out of thousands
Denny DiCapo, 64, of Rochester Hills, was sentenced to 5 to 20 years’ incarceration yesterday by Judge Kwame Rowe in the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County for stealing $26,000 in business transactions, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. DiCapo pled guilty as charged last year to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise and six counts of Larceny by Conversion, $1,000 to $20,000. -
AG Nessel joins multistate brief supporting Cook County's assault weapon regulations
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, along with a coalition of 19 attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in the case Viramontes, et al. v. The County of Cook, et al. The brief supports the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois' decision that Cook County's prohibition on the sale and possession of assault weapons aligns with the Second Amendment. -
Attorney general clears Lansing officer in non-fatal shooting case
LANSING – The Department of Attorney General announced today that it has concluded its review of the non-fatal January 10, 2024, officer-involved shooting of Zachary Duling, 31, of Lansing. No charges will be issued against the Lansing Police Department (LPD) Officer involved, who acted in self-defense. The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office had requested the Department of Attorney General to review shootings by officers in Ingham County for potential misconduct or criminal wrongdoing. -
Grand Haven man sentenced for mass cyber theft involving mPerks
LANSING – Yesterday, Nicholas Mui, 22, of Grand Haven, was sentenced to 5-20 years’ incarceration for the systemic theft and sale of account access information tied to mPerks accounts, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Mui, who pled guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise in July, also forfeited his computer tower and approximately $611,000 in frozen cryptocurrency and cash. -
Former Dearborn Heights man extradited from Guam faces sexual assault charges
Jordan Wagner, 30, formerly of Dearborn Heights and most recently residing in Guam, was extradited back to Wayne County to face charges of Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC), Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced. The U.S. Marshals Service returned Wagner to Michigan and into custody at the Dearborn Police Department last week before an arraignment on August 27th on one count of First-Degree CSC and three counts of Second-Degree CSC as part of Operation Survivor Justice. Second-Degree CSC is a 15-year felony, while First-Degree CSC carries a potential life sentence.... -
Flint woman pleads no contest to embezzling from vulnerable adult
LANSING – Constance Marie Roberts, 68, of Flint, pled no contest to one count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult $20,000-$50,000 and one count of Taxes-Failure to File/False Return/Payment in the 7th Circuit Court in Genesee County. This follows her acquisition of large sums of money and multiple vehicles from the vulnerable adult victim, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced. -
Grand Traverse County Commissioner charged with soliciting prostitution
Grand Traverse County Commissioner Brad Jewett, 55, of Traverse City, was arraigned today before Magistrate Tammi Rogers in the 86th District Court in Traverse City. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Jewett faces charges of engaging services of prostitution and using a computer to commit a crime. -
AG Nessel announces $9 million settlement over unclaimed MoneyGram property
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced a settlement involving a bipartisan coalition of 30 states in a multistate lawsuit regarding unclaimed property managed by MoneyGram International, Inc. (MoneyGram). The settlement will lead to an approximately $9 million recovery for Michigan residents with outstanding unclaimed property held by MoneyGram's money order service. -
Florida man pleads guilty to rent thefts across Michigan
LANSING – Rafael Rodriguez, 44, of Florida, pled guilty today to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony, in the 42nd Circuit Court in Midland County for rent thefts across the eastern half of the state, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. As part of the plea, Rodriguez has agreed to a restitution order of $36,235. Juan Miguel Rodriguez-Venegas, 55, of Florida, who pled guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise for the same crime earlier this month, has also agreed to pay $36,235 in restitution. -
Michigan AG comments on Supreme Court rulings on Covid-19 orders and clergy abuse case
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has expressed approval of recent decisions issued by the Michigan Supreme Court concerning Covid-19 emergency orders and a former Shelby Township clergyman’s conviction.