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.

“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.

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

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

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. 

More: Why Colin Hurley’s coach is ‘super excited’ about Michigan QB room

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. 

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

He’s a great coach.

He’s a great coach.

They extended his contract.

They extended his contract.

Yeah.

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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