Midwest
CFO of Detroit riverfront revitalization project charged with embezzling $40 million
A man who for years controlled the finances at a group that has turned Detroit’s riverfront into a popular attraction was charged Wednesday with embezzling tens of millions of dollars.
William Smith routinely used money from the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy to pay credit card bills for travel, hotels, limousines, household goods, clothing and jewelry, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court.
The fraud is “simply astonishing in scale,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison, who pegged the theft at $40 million.
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Smith, who was chief financial officer from 2011 until he was fired in May, was charged with bank and wire fraud. He was led into court in handcuffs and subsequently released on bond.
Defense attorney Gerald Evelyn did not return a phone message seeking comment.
This June 24, 2014 file photo shows walkers and joggers along the Detroit RiverWalk in Detroit. A man who for years controlled the finances at a group that has turned Detroit’s riverfront into a popular attraction was charged Wednesday, June 5, 2024, with embezzling tens of millions of dollars. William Smith routinely used money from the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy to pay credit card bills for travel, hotels, limousines, household goods, clothing and jewelry, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court. Smith, who was chief financial officer from 2011 until he was fired in May, was charged with bank and wire fraud. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio_File)
Smith has not spoken publicly since the scandal broke on May 14 when the Riverfront Conservancy said he was being placed on leave. He was fired Friday.
The mission of the Riverfront Conservancy is to transform miles of shore along the Detroit River into a place for recreation with plazas, pavilions and green space.
Philanthropists and foundations have poured millions into ongoing projects, including the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. Wilson, who died in 2014, lived in suburban Detroit and was the owner of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
The 44-member Riverfront Conservancy board of directors is stocked with major business leaders and public officials, who have been stunned by the allegations.
“We each feel a sense of responsibility to overcome this horrific act,” the board said last week.
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Temperatures have gotten chilly over the past couple of days as we say goodbye to those 60s, 70s, and even 80s. Southeast Michigan is settling into a cold stretch of temps in the 50s.
While we typically should be in the mid-60s for this time of year, Southeast Michigan will round out this week with temperatures staying firmly in the low to mid 50s.
Chilly high temperatures usually mean chilly low temperatures, too. This stretch of cooler highs will also result in near-freezing lows. Expect morning lows to fall into the 30s for the rest of this week, triggering a Freeze Watch for all of Southeast Michigan Saturday morning from midnight to 9 a.m. If you have any sensitive plants or vegetation, try to bring them inside, or at least cover them to protect them.
Unfortunately, before we get there, we still have cold air on Thursday night to watch for.
Temperatures in the mid 30s to near freezing tonight have brought a risk of frost in Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Lapeer, and Sanilac counties.
A frost advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday.
Fortunately, temperatures will rebound back into the 60s next week, but the 8-14 day temperature outlooks show we have a fair chance of below-average temperatures as we enter May.
For your latest NEXT Weather forecast, watch on air, online, or streaming on PlutoTV.
Southwest US faces destructive tornadoes, hail with severe storms
Severe storms tear through the Southwest U.S. with tornadoes, hail and damaging winds as the NWS warns of a very active spring pattern.
Extreme weather with hail as large as softballs hit a zoo in Missouri on Tuesday, April 28, killing a female emu and injuring a male rhea. The storm, which rolled quickly through the area, also damaged vehicles and roofs.
Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield said in an April 28 Facebook post that its 21-year-old female emu, Adam, died during the storm, while a male rhea was injured and is under veterinary care. The zoo also sustained significant damage and remained closed on Wednesday, April 29.
In a follow-up post on April 29, the zoo said the male rhea, Oscar, was “doing well” and thanked everyone for the “well wishes.” The zoo also said it plans to open on Thursday, April 30, though some “small birds will be off exhibit until skylights are repaired.”
“Thank you to all staff and volunteers who are working right now to be ready for tomorrow,” the zoo said. “There is still much to be done, but please come visit.”
Emus, native to Australia, are tall, flightless birds, according to the San Diego Wildlife Alliance. The emu is the second-largest living bird in the world after the ostrich, with adult females being larger and heavier than their male counterparts. Emus live up to 35 years in zoos and between 10 and 20 years in the wild.
Storm caused significant damage in Missouri
An intense storm rolled through parts of Springfield, Missouri, and Greene County on April 28. Justin Titus with the National Weather Service office in Springfield said meteorologists measured 4-inch hail after the first wave of the storm in the early afternoon.
Cars across the region suffered significant damage, the Springfield News-Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Power outages and damage to gas meters were also reported.
Springfield-Branson National Airport said passengers who parked cars at the airport should expect to see hail damage.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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