Renovations at a Romulus business have resulted in felony charges against three Wayne County employees.
Romulus Nutrition on Ecorse Road was the site of the renovations during which, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office, the three men used Wayne County equipment and materials. Prosecutors allege the three men also falsified time sheets and were paid by the county for time spent working on the private business.
An investigation into the three county workers was prompted by an anonymous letter alleging illegal activities involving three employees of the Wayne County Bridge Department. When the letter was received in her office in April 2022, Worthy requested an investigation.
Chief Brian White and Lt. Donald Farris of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from the FBI-Detroit Public Corruption Task Force conducted the investigation, according to a statement from Worthy's office.The investigators concluded that on Dec. 5, 2021, Scott VanPeeren, 54 of Wyandotte, John Everhart, 50, of Farmington Hills and Justin Whorton, 40, of Detroit did work on the private business located on the 31250 block of Ecorse Road and falsified their respective time cards. Prosecutors allege the men also used county materials and county equipment during the renovation. Officials said the investigation into the matter is ongoing.
The three, VanPeeren, Everhart and Whorton were charged with criminal offenses by prosecutors on March 28. Each faces one count of larceny - $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, and one count of conspiracy to commit larceny - $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. Both counts are felonies with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
All three have been suspended from their employment with the county, with pay.
“We continue our commitment to hold employees accountable who misuse Wayne County taxpayer dollars. The employees charged today showed a blatant lack of integrity and respect for the residents that we serve,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. “My office will continue to collaborate with Prosecutor Worthy and local and state officials to ensure that everyone involved in this egregious operation is prosecuted.”
“We have been charging and holding defendants accountable for their unscrupulous criminal behavior for almost two decades. It amazes me that despite this, corruption continues because corrupters think they will never be held to account,” said Worthy. “In this case, these three defendants allegedly knowingly accepted money from the county in the form of wages that they did not deserve. There is nothing right about this.”
Defendants VanPeeren and Whorton were arraigned on March 28 in 34th District Court before Judge Brian Oakley and given a $1,000 personal bond. Everhart was arraigned before 34th District Court Magistrate Al Hindman and received a $10,000 personal bond.
