U.S. Attorney Has News About Indictments in Wayne County Probe

Former Wayne County executive Robert Ficano said in an email statement that he has been vindicated in the probe by the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office. (Patch file photo)

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No additional charges will filed in the federal corruption investigation into Wayne County government.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade made the announcement Monday that her office has concluded the probe that resulted in five convictions, including Wayne County’s chief information officer and assistant county executive, who served as director of HealthChoice of Michigan, according to a news release.

McQuade made the announcement with Paul M. Abbate, special agent in charge of the Detroit Field Office of the FBI, whose probe followed a Detroit City Hall investigation that led to dozens of convictions and sent former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to prison.

“I would like to thank and commend the officials and staff of the Wayne County executive and the Wayne County corporation counsel for their cooperation during this investigation,” McQuade said in the statement. “Their assistance and openness allowed federal investigators to carefully review and assess a number of complex issues regarding the operation of county government.”

Ousted former county executive Robert Ficano, who was not indicted, has denied any wrongdoing in a probe that dogged his fall re-election campaign.

“Today, my record and my good name have been cleared and I move on with confidence and renewed faith,” Ficano said in an email to The Detroit News. “Those who prejudged and sensationalized the situation and the people involved in it have extracted a heavy price and ruined the reputation of many decent and honest citizens. I hope there is a lesson in this for them.”

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