Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith is expected to turn himself in to authorities today on charges connected to a Michigan State Police investigation that had included a search warrant on his Macomb Township home and his office, MIRS has learned.
Smith is slated to be arraigned this morning. Back in May, the MSP searched Smith’s home as part of an investigation that he inappropriately used county forfeiture funds.
The Attorney General’s office announced in early April that MSP was investigating after a request from County Executive Mark Hackel. Smith has previously said that there is nothing secret about the county’s forfeiture program, which is earmarked for law-enforcement purposes.
However, the Detroit Free Press reported that an estimated $1.8 million in four forfeiture funds “were spent for credit cards, furniture, a security firm, holiday parties, and to churches and nonprofits, in addition to money given to law enforcement agencies.”
Source : MIRS Breaking News, March 23, 2020.