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Auto Supplier Seeks Approval for New Location in Genoa TownshipAuto Supplier Seeks Approval for New Location in Genoa Township

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3/26/13- An auto supply company is looking to relocate its corporate headquarters to Genoa Township. Dakkota Integrated Systems presented a site plan for the new location to the township’s Planning Commission at last night’s public hearing. After a long discussion detailing the plan, the commission unanimously voted to recommend the site plan for approval in front of the township’s Board of Trustees. Township Planning Director Kelly VanMarter believes the company’s presence in the area will be beneficial for the community. Dakkota Integrated will bring over 70 jobs to the township. Members of the Planning Commission acknowledged a few changes that should be made to the plan prior to approval. Most of the issues addressed include problems Dakkota Integrated is facing due to a great amount of wetlands that exist on the 30 acres of land the company plans to build on. The company’s site plan will go before the Genoa Township Board of Trustees at their regularly scheduled meeting on April 15th. (SO)

Howell Council Members Hear Plans to Upgrade Veterans Memorial Howell Council Members Hear Plans to Upgrade Veterans Memorial

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3/26/13 - The Howell City Council received a presentation Monday night about some upgrades in the works for the Livingston County Veterans Memorial. Built in the 1940’s, the memorial is located in front of the historic courthouse in downtown Howell and will be expanded and enhanced to include seating, lighting and new landscaping. The Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation is acting as the fiduciary agent for the project while Beautification Committee Member Louis VanCuyl is leading the effort. He's a first generation veteran and chairman of the Howell Chamber’s Beautification Committee. He made the presentation and said the memorial is really in need of some updating being more than 60 years old now. Donor bricks that can be engraved will not only honor local heroes but are funding the beautification project, which VanCuyl pegged between $40,000 to $50,000. He also approached members about receiving City assistance to remove the cement and sidewalks around the existing monument, which officials noted would have very little financial impact other than staff time. Council was supportive of that and if all goes as planned; the new memorial should be fully installed by late summer. For more information, contact the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation at (517) 546-3920 or download a brick order form from the site below. (JM)

Reduced Howell School Board Rejects Teacher Union ContractReduced Howell School Board Rejects Teacher Union Contract

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3/26/13 - With two of its members excluded from voting due to new state legislation, the Howell School Board rejected a proposed contract with the district’s teachers’ union last night. Recently-passed legislation backed by Hamburg Senator Joe Hune prevents school board members from voting on employee contracts involving close relatives. School Board member Kim Witt has a sister who is a teacher in the district, so she and her husband, Board President Mike Witt, were excluded from last night’s vote on a new two-year contract with the Howell Education Association. The contract still needed four votes to pass, but of the five remaining board members only two were willing to vote in favor of the contract. Superintendent Ron Wilson and Assistant Superintendent of Finance Rick Terres had both recommended passage of the contract, which they say included significant concessions from the union designed to prevent financial hardship in the district. Presenters said the contract would have provided $500,000 in savings before the end of this school year by lowing the district’s contribution to health care costs. It also had safeguards to keep the district from going below a 7.5% fund balance and gave the district greater flexibility in teacher placement and layoffs. The three board members who voted against it were Mike Moloney (pictured here talking with teacher's union President Jay McDowell), Deb McCormick, and Doug Moore. All three said they voted against it because the deal was only released to them late Friday night, giving them less than three days to review the deal. McCormick said she had not seen it before yesterday and could not in good conscience vote in favor of such a large contract without reviewing it first. The state’s new right-to-work laws will take effect on Thursday, which was identified during the meeting as a point of leverage that favored the district in the contract. Board President Mike Witt says he has no doubt that these laws were the real motivation for delaying the contract approval. Superintendent Wilson expressed his disappointment at the board’s decision, saying the contract would have improved the district’s financial stability and contributed to student achievement. A new contract must now be negotiated by June 30th when the current pact expires. However, the teacher's union is under no obligation to make the same concessions rejected Monday night as the terms of the current contract would simply remain in effect, denying the district the proposed savings. A contract with the Howell Educational Support Personnel Association was introduced at the meeting and, with Mike and Kim Witt both voting, passed 4-to-3. (TD)

Trial Date Set for Man Accused of Fleeing OfficersTrial Date Set for Man Accused of Fleeing Officers

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3/26/13 - A Fowlerville man charged with fleeing from police last year will head to trial this spring. 39-year-old David Kluesner will go to trial May 20th on charges of 3rd degree fleeing police, driving on a suspended license, and assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer. He was earlier found competent to stand trial after undergoing a forensic psychiatric exam. Prosecutors say Kluesner was stopped by police July 29th, 2012 for driving on a suspended license. Police say he refused to cooperate or provide identification before trying to flee from the officer, who deployed a Taser with no effect. They say Kluesner then got back in his car and fled at a high rate of speed through a residential area to his home, where he again fled from officers. Police say he eventually returned to his residence and was arrested shortly thereafter. Kluesner claims he was Tasered by the officer for merely asking why he was under arrest and that he fled in fear for his life. He also claims officers beat him unnecessarily resulting is a broken clavicle and other injuries. (JK)

Civil Air Patrol Cadets Win Michigan CompetitionCivil Air Patrol Cadets Win Michigan Competition

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3/26/13 - For the second year in a row, a group of local students will represent Michigan in a regional cadet competition next month. The Livingston Composite Squadron is a Civil Air Patrol team that consists of ten students from across the county. The team won the state championship this past weekend after competing against four other teams in various categories including Standard Drill, Written Exam, Innovative Drill, Quiz Bowl and a One Mile Run. They will now represent Michigan in the Great Lakes Regional Cadet Competition in Springfield, Illinois the first weekend in April. The team will be performing indoor and outdoor practical drills and will post the colors, conduct a flag ceremony and carry the flag in formation. The team will also compete in other areas that are not flag-related and involve leadership and aerospace. The Squadron is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, which is an auxiliary of the United States Air Force. (JK)

City of Howell Eyeing Federal Funds for Road ReconstructionCity of Howell Eyeing Federal Funds for Road Reconstruction

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3/26/13 - Officials are forging full speed ahead after learning the City of Howell might be eligible for some unexpected federal road funding. The funds are federal gas tax dollars not obligated by the state, which are being turned over to local jurisdictions. The grant covers the majority of construction costs at 80%, with the City responsible for a 20% match, along with all engineering costs. Two sets of projects were laid out for consideration at Monday night’s meeting. The first is resurfacing South Michigan Avenue from Pulford Street, north to Mason/Marion Road. The second was the resurfacing or rehabilitation of Marion, Dearborn, East Livingston and Fowler Streets. The resurfacing option does not address any base issues or lateral cracking, where joints are separating. City Manager Shea Charles noted the overlay is the more economical solution but the rehabilitation option would buy another five to ten years of road life for just $56,000. The consensus of Council was that the full rehabilitation was the best bang for the taxpayer buck, since the work needs to be done anyway. Both projects will be submitted to the federal aid committee, which could authorize the funds when it meets later today. Charles expressed confidence in their chances of receiving both awards but noted the timeline is incredibly tight if approved and plans must be submitted to the state by the end of April. (JM)

Charges Filed in Hartland High School Student FightCharges Filed in Hartland High School Student Fight

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3/26/13 - Formal charges have been filed against a Hartland High School student for a fight earlier this month with another student. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt confirmed that his office has filed an aggravated assault complaint against the female student. Her name is not being released as the case is being handled in juvenile court. The incident occurred on March 12th in a hallway at Hartland High. The video of the incident shows one female student arguing with another before grabbing her from behind, pulling her to the ground, and attacking her. Police say the two girls had been arguing about a personal issue in the assailant’s life during class, and the argument escalated into violence when they got into the hallway. A teacher broke up the fight, but not before the victim suffered a broken nose. Another student who witnessed the fight filmed it on his smartphone and posted it the Internet. He’s not expected to face any charges. (JK)

Schuette Files Grand Jury Request Linked to Steroid Deaths Schuette Files Grand Jury Request Linked to Steroid Deaths

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3/26/13 - Michigan's attorney general says he wants to uncover the truth and provide justice for residents of Livingston County and others across the state. Schutte is seeking a criminal investigation into the deaths of 17 residents, several of them from Livingston County, from contaminated steroids supplied by a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company. Schuette announced today that he asked the state Court of Appeals to order a multi-county grand jury probe of the New England Compounding Center. A grand jury can compel testimony under oath, while state investigators don't have that power. Three residents died after being treated in Indiana but Schutte told WHMI during an interview today that Michigan leads the country in patients affected by the fungal meningitis outbreak, with 259 infections and 14 deaths. He says Michigan is the epicenter of this storm and it’s a tragic situation, which is why he’s calling for the formation of a grand jury. Schuette says there is probable cause to believe crimes were committed that caused tainted fungus-filled medicine to later be injected into patients, leading to deaths and illnesses. He says a grand jury will be able to investigate fully and aggressively, including compelling witnesses to testify and issue subpoenas. Genesee, Grand Traverse, Livingston and Macomb counties all have private clinics that administered the steroids. The Livingston County location was identified as Michigan Pain Specialists in Brighton. Four of the state’s deaths were Livingston County residents, all of them women ranging in age from 50 to 79. (JK/JM)

Man Arrested for Pointing Gun While Driving on US-23 in Green Oak Man Arrested for Pointing Gun While Driving on US-23 in Green Oak

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3/26/13 - Local authorities say a man was arrested yesterday after pointing a gun while traveling on a local freeway during the evening commute. Troopers from the Michigan State Police Brighton Post and officers from the Green Oak Township Police Department responded to a dispatch call at approximately 5:20pm. Police say a semi truck driver called 911 to report that a white male in a black pickup truck was traveling northbound on US-23 south of I-96 in Green Oak Township and pointing a black and silver handgun at the passenger door with his finger on the trigger. Police say dispatchers were able to keep the truck driver from Westland on the phone and obtained additional information, which helped officers locate and stop the suspect vehicle and driver in the area of US-23 and M-59. The Waterford man was arrested without incident and police say a semi-automatic handgun was located in his vehicle. (JM)

Milford Council Extends Approval for Community Garden Group Milford Council Extends Approval for Community Garden Group

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3/27/13 - A group that operates a community garden in Milford will be springing into action in the coming months. Growing Greens garden is located at General Motors and Milford Road, adjacent to the bike trail and Huron River. The property is owned by the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority but leased to the Village of Milford. The Village Council recently voted to allow the group to continue using the land until October of 2015. The group was formed to foster a sense of community through gardening while growing healthy food for families and neighbors but also to involve and educate children about healthy eating. A portion of the garden is designated to growing produce for a community sharing garden that helps area families in need. New signage, flowers, birdhouses and a welcoming area are planned for the garden. Volunteers are always needed and the group has scheduled upcoming spring work days in May. A link to more information about the group’s efforts can be found below. (JM)

Brighton City Discusses Cuts And Revenues To Prevent DeficitBrighton City Discusses Cuts And Revenues To Prevent Deficit

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3/27/13 - Last night was the second in a series of workshops being held by the Brighton City Council with its various department heads to discuss the proposed budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year. The budget, which begins on July 1st, has a projected shortfall of about $150,000. The workshops, led by City manager Dana Foster, allow the city leaders to examine projections for the next six budget years as well as possible expenditure cuts that would keep the city in the black for the long term. Foster identified possible cuts last night, including reducing city staff by attrition as in years past, while council members examined several expenditures they thought could be reduced. Foster also proposed a new source of revenue that could be made available by asking voters to approve an override to the Headlee Amendment. This would allow the city to increase the property tax by up to one mil every year until the city’s charter millage cap of 20 is hit. Foster tells WHMI that combined with expenditure cuts, this would keep the city financially stable for the foreseeable future. It could even allow for capital improvements and the repeal of the refuse user fees enacted several years ago. If offered by council, the millage could go before voters in November. The next workshop will take place tonight at 6:30 in the Brighton City Council chambers. (TD)

Union Leader Blasts Board Trio as "Disingenuous"Union Leader Blasts Board Trio as "Disingenuous"

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3/27/13 - Following Monday night’s rejection by the Howell Public School’s Board of Education of a two-year teacher contract, the man who heads up the union says those board members who voted against the deal will inevitably cost the district millions of dollars. The pact was voted down by a 3-2 vote, with Board President Mike Witt and his wife, Kim, the board’s secretary, prevented from voting by a recently enacted conflict of interest bill. Kim Witt’s sister is a teacher in the district. Jay McDowell, who heads up the Howell Education Association, tells WHMI that the contract offered significant concessions to the district including guaranteed savings in health care and a guaranteed minimum fund balance of 7.5%. He says it also provided language that would help trim the budget by allowing the district to get rid of scheduling inefficiencies. But those concessions expire at midnight tonight with tomorrow’s implementation of the Right to Work law. The three members who voted against the contract, Treasurer Doug Moore and Trustees Mike Moloney and Deborah McCormick, said they did so because they only had three days to review the contract, which they felt wasn’t enough time. But according to McDowell, that’s a disingenuous answer on the part of Moloney and McCormick, who he says choose not to send their children to Howell schools as McCormick sends her son to Hartland schools while he says Moloney costs the district over $28,000 each year that he sends his kids to St. Joseph Catholic School. McDowell says their decision will ultimately force cuts to teachers and programs that won’t hurt their kids or families. He called it simply a political decision to further their political ambitions. He adds that all three have voted on many items that they only had a few days to review and more importantly the three experts they hired to help them make the decision; Superintendent Ron Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Finance Rick Terres and the district’s chief negotiator, all said it was a good deal that would bring about financial stability. The current teacher contract expires June 30th, but the union is under no obligation to reach a new deal as the terms of the current contract will simply remain in effect. McDowell says in the end, Moloney, McCormick, and Moore put politics above what is good for Howell students. (JK)

Rogers Says Serious Consideration Going Into Possible Senate RunRogers Says Serious Consideration Going Into Possible Senate Run

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3/27/13 - Congressman Mike Rogers says he is giving serious consideration to a possible run in 2014 for the Senate seat that Democrat Carl Levin plans to vacate. The Howell Republican, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, announced earlier this month that he was looking into the idea. In the district yesterday, he stopped by WHMI for an in-depth interview on a variety of topics including cyber-warfare, Syria and Iranian nuclear ambitions. As for the Senate run, Rogers said his decision to consider a run didn’t come about because of the title. "I'll weigh the impact I think I'm having as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee...versus the impact I think I might be able to have as a Senator." He says there are a lot of family discussions about what would happen over the next two years, but he expects to make a decision sooner than later. The 78-year-old Levin, who has served in the Senate since 1978, announced earlier this month he would not seek a seventh term. Rogers joins other Michigan Republicans interested in a run including West Michigan Congressman Justin Amash, former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, former Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis, state Senator Roger Kahn of Saginaw and Ronna Romney McDaniel, the niece of 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney. On the Democratic side, Congressman Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township and Debbie Dingell, a longtime party activist and wife of Congressman John Dingell of Dearborn, are seriously considering a run. Rogers says he expects the race will draw significant national interest and money as Republicans have not won a Senate seat in Michigan since 1994. The full interview with Rogers will air Sunday on WHMI’s Viewpoint. (JK)

Men Charged In Highland And White Lake Break-Ins SentencedMen Charged In Highland And White Lake Break-Ins Sentenced

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3/27/13 - Sentencing was handed down yesterday for the two Highland Township men charged in connection with dozens of home invasions and break-ins in Oakland and Livingston counties. 22 year-old Michael Robert Brown and 25-year-old Nicholas Paul Kent were charged with 1st degree home invasion among others in Oakland in connection with 21 incidents in Highland and White Lake. More charges are expected to be filed against them in Livingston County for other crimes. Both men pleaded no contest to the charges, which is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. Yesterday, Brown was sentenced to 57 months to 20 years for home invasion, with concurrent sentences of up to 10 years for breaking and entering and five years for larceny from a motor vehicle, with credit for 60 days served. Kent was sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit for 55 served, plus two years of probation. His sentence was suspended, pending his completion of a Zero Tolerance Program for drugs and alcohol. His sentence will take effect if he violates the rules of the program. Detectives with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Highland Township substation say the pair stole various items including a large amount of power tools from unlocked homes, storage sheds and vehicles to feed their heroin habits. The pair mostly targeted the Axford Acres and Dunham Lake Estates subdivisions. Police told the Milford Times the amount of property, victims and reports made the case very labor intensive and they’re still working to identify the owners of some property that was recovered. (TD)

Business Assistance Team Kickoff Planned in Lyon TownshipBusiness Assistance Team Kickoff Planned in Lyon Township

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3/17/13 - Lyon Township and the City of South Lyon will hold an event next month to kick off their new small business assistance program. The two municipalities have created the Business Assistance Team program to help small businesses by providing information and instruction about various obstacles they need to overcome. The April 11th open house at the Lyon Township hall will allow businesses to learn about the services offered by the program and apply for assistance from the team. To qualify a business must have been in business for at least two years, be for-profit, have at least two full-time employees, and have a storefront or be home-based. Lyon Township Downtown Development Authority Administrator Michelle Aniol says the BAT program will help small businesses with market research, developing a marketing plan, networking, and locating financial resources. For more information about the program or the open house, contact the City of South Lyon, the Lyon Township offices, or the township DDA. (TD)

Salvation Army Seeking Easter Donations for Local Kids & Families Salvation Army Seeking Easter Donations for Local Kids & Families

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3/27/13 - The Salvation Army of Livingston County will be providing Easter clothes, food and baskets to dozens of local kids and families in need but say they could use some last minute donations during the season of faith. The Dress an Angel program provides new Easter clothes for infants and school age children whose families can’t afford the luxury on their own. Along with the dress clothes and traditional accessories, Easter dinner for the entire family is provided, along with Easter baskets for the kids. The Salvation Army says donations are down this year but the need has more than doubled, with 50 families and 121 children seeking assistance. Officials say they’re specifically in need of dress clothes, underwear, and shoes for boys and girls wearing larger adult sizes. Specifically, girls sizes 14-16-18 and juniors 5-7-9-11-13-15 as well as girls size 6 underwear. Officials say clothes and gift cards for clothing and shoes stores will be accepted at the Salvation Army’s 503 Lake Street office in Howell. Information about how to donate can be found through the link below or by contacting the Salvation Army of Livingston County. (JM)

Rezoning Serves as First Step to Address Violations at Salvage Site Rezoning Serves as First Step to Address Violations at Salvage Site

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3/27/13 - Howell City officials are in the midst of a multi-phase process to address violations occurring at an auto-salvage operation. At its meeting on Monday night, The Howell City Council approved rezoning a piece of property owned by Vern Brockway of Regal Recycling at the south end of Lucy Road, just north of I-96. The rezoning was initiated in response to the expansion of an auto-salvage operation on that portion of the property. City documents show staff has concerns about current operations on the site and whether it can be brought into compliance with ordinances. The rezoning request was said to be appropriate and a needed first step to address the expanded operations. Owner Vern Brockway needs to appear before the Planning Commission with a corrected site plan and special use request. The property was annexed into the City under a 425 agreement with Genoa Township. When that happened, the property automatically reverted to the lowest zoning of residential. City Manager Shea Charles tells WHMI the property had to be rezoned back to the previous industrial classification as a first step to the other business. Howell Township officials are dealing with a similar situation at Brockway’s property in the area of M-59 and Tooley Road, where a number of unauthorized uses are said to be occurring. Meanwhile, the City previously sold a significant portion of a former landfill site to Brockway’s Lucy Road Resources II company for future operations and is currently working on a development plan to get that space activated again. Charles says the City’s Brownfield Authority is meeting to start review reimbursement agreements. The former Lucy Road landfill site is contaminated the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has been involved in the process. A number of amendments have been brought before Council in relation to the purchase agreement for the site between the City of Howell and Lucy Road Resources II. (JM)

Hartland District Contracts Could Mean Loss of State FundsHartland District Contracts Could Mean Loss of State Funds

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3/27/13 - State funding for the Hartland Consolidated School district may be in jeopardy after ratification of several union contracts this week. On Monday, the Hartland school board approved five-year contracts for teachers, secretaries, food-service personnel and maintenance employees. But the district faces the loss of state performance grant money under legislation that would put some state funding at risk for local governments that sign long labor contracts before Michigan’s right-to-work law takes effect on Thursday. The legislation was approved by the House General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, of which State Representative Bill Rogers is a member. The Genoa Township Republican says because the contract is longer than the one it replaces, the district will lose its grant funding. However, district officials say the money they will save because of union concessions will more than make up for that loss. In addition to tying pay increases to increased state aid and increased enrollment, the new contracts allow the district to put 5% of their annual operating budget into its fund reserves and adds a seventh high school class period, which will help reduce class sizes from an average of 35 to 28 students. Because the deals were approved prior to the right-to-work law going into effect, members of those unions will not be able to opt-out of paying their union dues. Supporters of right-to-work say it provides workers a choice if they wish to financially support a union, while critics say the law’s intention is to subvert the power of unions to bargain collectively and attempts by the legislature to punish governmental units that implement contracts prior to its implementation only proves that. (JK)

Federal Officials Dispute Claims by Elias Realty OwnerFederal Officials Dispute Claims by Elias Realty Owner

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3/27/13 - Federal housing officials are disputing claims made by a realtor whose Brighton and Livonia offices were recently raided by the FBI. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, known as Freddie Mac, this week filed a response to allegations made by realtor Will Elias, who is suing the agency after they placed his company, Elias Realty, on an exclusionary list prohibiting his firm from taking part in any mortgage they were involved with. Elias says Freddie Mac’s actions were unwarranted, forcing him to file a lawsuit in federal court in January. However, Freddie Mac says a company known as Federal Modification Group was an assumed name for one of Elias’ companies and that public filings show their loan modification services were the subject of cease and desist orders in four different states. Further, they claim that Freddie Mac found out that FMG had accepted up-front fees from at least one Freddie Mac borrower in Michigan for a loan modification request that was never completed. The agency says that alone provided them with justification to stop doing business with Elias Realty and they have requested that the lawsuit be dismissed. Meanwhile, there has still been no word from the FBI whether any charges will result in the February 27th raid of Elias Realty offices in Brighton and Livonia. (JK)

Bravata Found Guilty On All Counts By Federal Jury Bravata Found Guilty On All Counts By Federal Jury

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3/27/13 - A Brighton Township businessman has been found guilty on all counts as part of a federal fraud trial. The federal jury has been deliberating for a week now and returned the verdict this afternoon. John Bravata was found guilty of a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 14 counts of wire fraud. His son Antonio was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud but was acquitted on two separate wire fraud charges. The trial began in late January, with Bravata taking the stand in his own defense. His business partner, Richard Trabulsy, previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and testified against him. The federal government says the three men misled 440 investors while collecting millions of dollars for BBC Equities, which operated out of Brighton Township. Bravata repeatedly denied any fraud and maintained his fundraising efforts were made in good faith and that his company only failed after the Securities & Exchange Commission filed suit against him, triggering an investigation that led to the criminal charges. Both John and Antonio Bravata are scheduled to be sentenced June 18th by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Borman. (JM)
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