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Man gets prison for fake signatures that roiled Michigan governor race

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Man gets prison for fake signatures that roiled Michigan governor race


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A Florida man was sentenced to two to 20 years in prison Tuesday, March 31 for his role in a fraudulent petition scandal that derailed the candidacies of five Republican candidates for Michigan governor in 2022, according to online court records.

Macomb County Circuit Judge James Maceroni also ordered Willie Reed to pay nearly $334,000 in restitution to the campaigns that were victimized, records show. The judge ordered about $137,000 of that amount to go to Oakland County businessman Perry Johnson, who was disqualified from the primary ballot for governor in 2022 and is running again this year, and about $119,000 to former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, whose bid for Michigan governor ended when he was disqualified from the 2022 primary ballot.

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“The actions of the defendants deliberately undermined our electoral process and denied voters their choices in our primary,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a news release. “I hope this outcome serves as a deterrent to others who attempt to subvert our system.”

In February, a jury convicted Reed, co-owner of Mack Douglas LLC and owner/operator of Petitions Reed LLC, of about a dozen fraud-related charges and conducting a criminal enterprise, while acquitting him of about 17 other charges. Convicted of 22 fraud-related charges, including conducting a criminal enterprise, was co-defendant Shawn Wilmoth of Warren, owner/operator of First Choice LLC and co-owner of Mack Douglas LLC. A third defendant, Jamie Wilmoth of Warren, was acquitted of all charges.

Prosecutors said the defendants charged campaigns more than $700,000 for valid signatures but knowingly delivered tens of thousands of forged signatures on nomination petitions to eight campaigns, including three judicial campaigns. The fraudulent signatures were later discovered by Michigan Bureau of Elections officials, after which the Board of State Canvassers ordered disqualifications. The candidates themselves were not accused of wrongdoing.

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“He was treated fairly by the judge,” Reed’s attorney, Wright Blake of Detroit, told the Detroit Free Press after the March 31 sentencing.

However, Reed wants to appeal his convictions, Blake said, and the judge granted him an appeal bond to allow him to do so.

Shawn Wilmoth was sentenced to four to 20 years in prison on March 18 after a jury convicted him Feb. 9 of conducting a criminal enterprise and defrauding gubernatorial candidates Johnson, Donna Brandenburg, Mike Brown, and Michael Markey, as well as three judicial candidates. Shawn Wilmoth was acquitted on charges related to Craig’s petition signatures.

Maceroni ordered Wilmoth to pay $376,601 in restitution to the victims.

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Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com



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Michigan backup QB Colin Hurley no longer on roster

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Michigan backup QB Colin Hurley no longer on roster


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Michigan backup quarterback Colin Hurley is no longer on the roster. 

“Colin has departed the program,” Michigan football spokesman Dave Ablauf confirmed Tuesday. 

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Hurley, who has not yet played a game in college, transferred to the Wolverines from LSU. He participated in winter conditioning and spring practice, which is ongoing. 

Head coach Kyle Whittingham had said Bryce Underwood, who started every game last season as a freshman, is the starting quarterback.

Whittingham also praised early enrolled freshman Tommy Carr when asked early in spring practice about who might be the backup. 

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Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, a graduate transfer from Colorado State, is expected to arrive in Ann Arbor this summer. He has started 27 games.

achengelis@detroitnews.com

@chengelis



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Scouting the Pioneers: Three Denver Threats Michigan Must Neutralize in Las Vegas

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Scouting the Pioneers: Three Denver Threats Michigan Must Neutralize in Las Vegas


Michigan must shut down Pohlkamp’s offensive blue line presence, Lorenz’s momentum-building play, and Hicks’ rookie goaltending to advance.

Video Transcript

Give me, yeah, give me like 30 seconds to a minute.

Give me, yeah, give me like 30 seconds to a minute.

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obviously their overall record, Michigan, let’s see here.

obviously their overall record, Michigan, let’s see here.

They’re running right now at 22 and 4, I think.

They’re running right now at 22 and 4, I think.

They’re 10 and 2 at home.

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They’re 10 and 2 at home.

They’re on a six-game win streak.

They’re on a six-game win streak.

and in conference right now they’re 13 and 3.

and in conference right now they’re 13 and 3.

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So they did play Michigan State twice already.

So they did play Michigan State twice already.

they split the series.

they split the series.

I think, the first game it was in Ann Arbor or whatever.

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I think, the first game it was in Ann Arbor or whatever.

They won the, against, in the opposite place, right?

They won the, against, in the opposite place, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

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And they split the series, so- Each home, each home team won a game, right?

And they split the series, so- Each home, each home team won a game, right?

That’s it, right.

That’s it, right.

Yeah, exactly.

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Yeah, exactly.

and so I was looking this up earlier ’cause I was looking up probably the most interesting stat ear- when I first, you know, the season started, Michigan was oh, way in ahead with the most goals overall for Division I hockey.

and so I was looking this up earlier ’cause I was looking up probably the most interesting stat ear- when I first, you know, the season started, Michigan was oh, way in ahead with the most goals overall for Division I hockey.

and I looked up again and I refreshed that and they’re still 26 games played, 125 goals scored, 56 goals scored against them.

and I looked up again and I refreshed that and they’re still 26 games played, 125 goals scored, 56 goals scored against them.

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That’s- I mean, that’s- Whoa.

That’s- I mean, that’s- Whoa.

That’s, that’s amazing.

That’s, that’s amazing.

That’s Yeah.

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That’s Yeah.

The next, the next best team is Quinnipiac, and they’ve played two more games and they have 115 goals and 62 goals scored against them.

The next, the next best team is Quinnipiac, and they’ve played two more games and they have 115 goals and 62 goals scored against them.

So- Wow I think, I think you got the top five teams are all in the Big 10 right now.

So- Wow I think, I think you got the top five teams are all in the Big 10 right now.

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You got Michigan, Michigan State, Western Wisconsin, and I think Penn State was up there, but I know they just lost two games to Michigan State, and then Gavin McKenna might be going to prison, so.

You got Michigan, Michigan State, Western Wisconsin, and I think Penn State was up there, but I know they just lost two games to Michigan State, and then Gavin McKenna might be going to prison, so.

Yeah, I saw that.

Yeah, I saw that.

That’s kinda crazy.

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That’s kinda crazy.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Anyways, but the thing about it is some of the players like Michigan has right now, Will Horkoff, he has Let’s see.

Anyways, but the thing about it is some of the players like Michigan has right now, Will Horkoff, he has Let’s see.

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He has the most goals.

He has the most goals.

He has 20 goals right now.

He has 20 goals right now.

TJ Hughes, he’s right behind him with 13.

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TJ Hughes, he’s right behind him with 13.

Michael Hage, another great player.

Michael Hage, another great player.

You’re gonna, guys You guys are obviously are, is familiar, so those are probably three of the names you’re gonna hear.

You’re gonna, guys You guys are obviously are, is familiar, so those are probably three of the names you’re gonna hear.

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Jayden Perron, one of the best defensemen.

Jayden Perron, one of the best defensemen.

His name’s Dakota, so you’ll probably hear him too.

His name’s Dakota, so you’ll probably hear him too.

but the way they play- Gotta sneak that in, huh?

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but the way they play- Gotta sneak that in, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah.

The, the way they play, their coach, Brandon Yarioto, he’s, he’s, he played at Michigan.

The, the way they play, their coach, Brandon Yarioto, he’s, he’s, he played at Michigan.

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He’s a great coach.

He’s a great coach.

They extended his contract.

They extended his contract.

Yeah.

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Yeah.

So you just kinda see the success just getting more and more.

So you just kinda see the success just getting more and more.

Their, their goaltender went down a few games ago, and he was phenomenal.

Their, their goaltender went down a few games ago, and he was phenomenal.

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Michigan lawmakers consider bills to require licenses for tobacco retailers

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Michigan lawmakers consider bills to require licenses for tobacco retailers


Convenience stores, smoke shops and even drug stores across Michigan often offer a wall of tobacco products behind the counter. Michigan is one of only eight states where retailers aren’t required to obtain a license to sell the items, and now lawmakers want to change that.

A package of House bills making its way through committee would strengthen regulations, seeking to protect minors.

“We know how potentially dangerous tobacco usage is, and that we need to prevent teens from starting in the first place, helping them to avoid a lifelong health challenges that are caused by smoking and vaping,” Rep. Bradley Slagh (R-Zeeland) said.

The package, a version of which already passed the state Senate, would require retailers to obtain a license to sell tobacco or nicotine products.

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It would also penalize those who sell to minors, from the cashier to the store’s owner.

“We license people that might give me a bad haircut, but we’re not going to license people selling tobacco, and increasingly more to our youth,” Jeff Griffith, of The Youth Connection, said.

The bills would further remove penalties for minors that obtain or attempt to buy tobacco products.

“There is no evidence demonstrating that these laws are effective in reducing youth initiation, use of or addiction to tobacco products,” Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) said. “Research shows that African American and Hispanic youth were more likely to receive these citations. We do not want to increase interactions between young people of color and law enforcement.”

The 2023 Michigan Youth Tobacco survey found 29% of minors got their products through retailers.

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Only 9% of respondents reported that retailers refused to sell cigarettes to them because of age, and only 5% said the same for vapes.

According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data, within just the past five years, more than 3,100 enforcement actions have been taken against retailers for selling to minors.

Among them, five violations since 2022 at just one store, Deering’s Market in Traverse City. Last year, the FDA even sought a 30-day ban on tobacco sales at the store.

Under the bills, Deering’s would have been fined $10,000 and their license would have been revoked.

Two other stores, one in Ann Arbor and the other in Detroit, also received those orders.

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“They continue to operate and profit in the State of Michigan, while, as it was pointed out, the kids pay the price for the laws that criminalize them,” Jodi Radke, regional director for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said. “Today, Michigan kids are counting on you to place accountability where it belongs.”

Critics note mistakes are made and welcome regulation, but call the effort as a cash grab, with its $500 license fee.

They also point out the bills fail to address the 64% of minors who got their tobacco elsewhere, citing the 2023 survey.

“Quite frankly, we have little faith that based on our past experience with regulation enforcement and all these investigations we’ve seen that this is going to solve the problem of mom and dad and aunt and uncle giving smokes to kids,” Mark Griffin, president of the Michigan Association of Convenience Stores, said.

Supporters acknowledge the bills won’t completely solve the issue, but believe it shows Michigan is serious on the matter.

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