Former MI State Official Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement

MICHIGAN — A former employee of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges he embezzled from the state, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and department Director Liesl Clark said in a news release.

Joseph Pettit pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement over $100,000 and one count of uttering and publishing, Nessel and Clark said. Pettit was originally charged with three counts of embezzlement and four forgery-related crimes and use of a computer to commit a crime earlier this year.

Pettit was expected to serve prison time and will owe full restitution that totals $855,690, Nessel's office said in the news release.

Pettit's sentencing date is Nov. 17.

The embezzlement charge is a felony punishable by up to 20 years and a fine of up to $50,000 or three times the value of the money or property, whichever is greater. The uttering and publishing charge is a felony punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

"This plea brings us one step closer to securing accountability in this case, and therefore, justice for the people of Michigan," Nessel said. "State employees serve the many operations that keep Michigan running for our millions of residents. Abusing that responsibility will not be tolerated by my office."

Before an entity can drill or operate any type of well in Michigan, it must apply for a permit and post a conformance bond with the Oil, Gas and Minerals Division of the environment department. When the well changes hands, the original owner gets the bond back.

Pettit was responsible for handling such transactions as a department employee but created fake vendors and diverted the money for his own use, Nessel's office said.