Federal Agents Raid West Bloomfield Home In Corruption Scandal: Feds

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI — Federal agents raided a West Bloomfield home Tuesday morning and arrested two Wayne County employees after they said the workers stole more than $1.7 million to buy and resell power equipment.

Kevin Gunn, 64, of West Bloomfield and John Gibson, 54, of Detroit were charged with conspiring to commit and committing federal program theft, wire fraud and money laundering, according to a Justice Department news release. If convicted, they could each face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Gunn managed the Bridge Unit of the Wayne County Roads Division and was employed by Wayne County for 34 years. Gibson worked as a foreman within the Bridge Unit for 20 years, officials said.

Federal officials said the scheme started in January 2019, when Gunn solicited Wayne County vendors to buy generators, lawnmowers, chainsaws and backpack blowers from area retailers.

The vendors then submitted phony invoices to the county's Roads Division to use taxpayer dollars to purchase the power equipment, which Gunn and Gibson sold online for personal profit, officials said.

When the scam came to an end in August 2021, officials said the vendors purchased 596 generators and other power equipment worth a total of $1.7 million on behalf of the county, which was never supplied to the county or used within any of its departments.

"The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has never and will never shy away from prosecuting corruption in any form," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said. "I am proud of the focus and dedication of all of the investigators, who have worked together with our Wayne County Prosecutor’s Detectives to expose the alleged theft and fraudulent conduct against the citizens of Wayne County."

Federal agents surrounded the nearly 3,800-square-foot, $684,000 West Bloomfield home near Upper Straits Lake and Orchard Lake Country Club at 7 a.m., the Detroit News reported. Streets and roads were blocked off as officials raided the home.

"Today’s arrests reinforce our dedication to prosecuting corrupt public officials who elevate their own greed over the best interests of the public who rely on the safe administration and maintenance of public infrastructures like roads.," United States Attorney Dawn Ison said.