FBI launches anti-public corruption task force in Detroit

The FBI is pulling together a multi-agency task force fight public corruption in the Detroit area.

The task force will include several federal agencies, federal prosecutors, the Michigan Attorney General, the Michigan State Police, and Detroit Police. 

It’s no secret that public corruption is a major problem in our community," said Detroit US Attorney Barbara McQuade.

McQuade says her office is handling so many public corruption cases right now it will “take all the help it can get," and notes putting the different players together in one group helps make sure cases don’t fall through the cracks.

“Sometimes people are working on efforts that’s duplicating the work of another office," McQuade said. "And sometimes one organization has half the story, and the other organization has the other half of the story. But no one has the whole story.”

The task force will take over the investigation into alleged corruption into Wayne County government and County Executive Robert Ficano's administration.

The FBI has already issued a criminal complaint charging two former county officials with extortion and obstructing justice. More charges are expected.

The FBI and federal prosecutors are also pursuing cases against former city of Detroit officials, including ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.