Macomb County, MI: Six Officials in Hot Water
TripleDippers has eyes on corruption in Macomb County, Michigan where six officials have been indicted or convicted of a variety of felonies from theft to extortion. Read on and be sure to take a look at our three recommendations near the end.
What is the Third Dip?
The third dip is that These “Public Servants” cash out unused vacation, sick and personal days at their final highest salary, not the days when the days off were earned artificially taking more money from taxpayers and exploiting Taxpayer pension rules by increasing the last year’s salary upon which their pension is calculated.
Anthony
Morocco
Democrat and former Public Works Commissioner is getting $65,789 a year taxpayer paid pension. Marrocco was charged in U.S. District Court with one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of extortion and one count of attempted extortion. Each charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Eric
Smith
Prosecuting Attorney Eric Smith has been charged with 10 Felonies including racketeering and embezzlement by a Public Official is a Triple Dipper: taking a Pension of $82,764 and a Salary $148,619 at the same time to do the same job, and didn’t pay into the pension Program!
Dino
Bucci
Bucci, who served as Marrocco’s “Bribes bag man” Operations Manager under former Democrat Anthony Marrocco plead guilty June 2020 to extortion and theft conspiracies for his roles in County and as a Macomb Township Politician faces up to 10 years in prison. Bucci had refused to surrender his position and salary on the Township board, though he had not shown up for a board meeting in about one year. Bucci collects a county pension of $47,604!
Ben
Liston
Former Chief of Staff to Eric Smith, Liston was facing three felonies that could have landed him in prison for decades, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors and agreed to testify against Eric Smith. Liston is a Triple Dipper receiving a salary plus a pension of $48,720 at the same time to do the same job. Currently, Macomb County employees convicted of bribery and stealing misdemeanors may, not shall, lose their pensions.
Derek
Miller
Derek Miller, suspended Chief of Operations for the Macomb Prosecutor’s Office, has been formally charged with two felonies for his alleged role in his Ex-boss Former Prosecuting Attorney Eric Smith’s scheme to steal $600,000 of taxpayer money. Miller’s charges of misconduct and conspiracy to commit an illegal act in a illegal manner, are both punishable by up to five years in prison. He was released on May 12, 2020 on a $100,000 personal bond. Derek Miller was quickly placed on paid vacation administrative leave . Derek Miller, former Democrat State Representative and County Treasurer , who makes approximately $157,000 a year, takes almost a year of paid vacation and another $157,000 of taxpayer money pays for his replacement- a $314,00 ripoff of taxpayers.
Paul
Bukowski
Paid Vacation since Sept 14, 2020 for “Public Servant” Assistant Prosecutor Paul Bukowski who helped steal $20,000 with former Prosecutor Eric Smith in the stairwell of Macomb County Prosecutor’s office, rewarded with $5,000 ! Paul Bukowski allegedly violated several County and State laws by Obstruction of Justice, fraud and embezzlement but remains on paid vacation costing taxpayers approximately $145,000 in annual salary and benefits and another $145,000 for a replacement- a $290,000 ripoff of taxpayers! See tripledippers.org/Michigan On January 27, 2021 United States Attorney Matthew Schneider announced that Eric Smith has plead guilty in connection with a fraud and cover-up scheme . It is time for Paul Bukowski to stop taking taxpayers for a joyride and be replaced with an honest attorney.
TripleDippers Recommends:
1. Politicians and Bureaucrats charged with certain Misdemeanors or Felonies including bribery, stealing public money and extortion, should have their pensions and salary escrowed until a final court ruling and shall lose their entire public pension upon conviction for such crimes.
2. End the Macomb County Triple Dipper Program where Politicians and Bureaucrats receive a pension and a paycheck at the same time to do the same job and don’t pay into the pension system!
3. Politicians and Bureaucrats charged with Misdemeanors or Felonies including bribery, stealing public money and extortion should not be placed on administrative leave for more than 45 days.
Call your County Commissioner today (586-469-5125) to demand that Convicted Crooked County Politicians and Bureaucrats should lose all, not part, of their pensions!
Trusted leaders have been working at cross purposes for many years in Macomb County. Carefully guarding their intentions while performing their public duties. The implicit understanding between government servant and the governed has been compromised by greed and corruption.
Macomb County is not alone in this duplicity and our misplaced trust in government. We are at the forefront of the fight to expose it. Calling out the cozy relationship between governing authorities and the authorizors of financial compensation is the simplest task we can do.
Calling out the abyss of ethics violations is the real issue today. Too many sophisticated schemes and rationalizations have been allowed to flourish while the citizens are duped by the silence from our political leaders. Leaders who repeatedly violate a blind trust afforded them by the governed.
Our task is daunting if we continue to ignore the clear danger of rewarding our leaders for their misdeeds. Crime doesn’t pay! But only if We the People are watching over OUR government. Make the task easier by joining the fight against the corrupt. Ethics is supposed to be the guidestar.
The Moral Hazard is clear. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Deny these purveyors of evil their illicit rewards. Make the actions of our political leaders known to the governed. Expose their ill-gotten gains when the crime occurs by vigilance by the governed and a bright spotlight for all to see.
Truth is the best way to expose moral terpitude. Call on our communities to pass clear legislation that brings the basis for decisions made by OUR leaders into public view; not just the resulting decision. Sunshine Laws are the best disinfectant for the corruption of an immoral government.