MI Liquor Store Owner Stole Thousands Of Dollars With Fake Bottle Slips: Officials

GENESEE COUNTY, MI — A Genesee County man is facing charges in connection with a bottle return scam at his own liquor store, according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office.

Namir Shango, 34, of Davison, was charged with one count of false pretenses between $50,000 to $100,000. His next court date is scheduled for Thursday.

If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Officials said Shango created fake bottle deposit return invoices to make it look like they were generated from his in-store bottle return processing machine at Valley Liquor in Mount Morris.

Shango then gave the fake slips to his soft-drink distributor to get credits for incoming deliveries, officials said.

"Michigan’s bottle deposit program is meant to incentivize recycling efforts, and the State needs business owners to operate with integrity to achieve those goals," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in the release. "Defrauding businesses partners, and taking advantage of a popular state program for self-enrichment, will not be tolerated and my department will hold fraudsters accountable."