Former Wayne County Roads Division employees Jazmine Bass, 32, of Westland and Kevin Gunn, 64, of West Bloomfield have been charged with theft of more than $4000 in county funds.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged each defendant with one count of larceny over $1,000 but less than $20,000. According to prosecutors, Kevin Gunn was the supervisor of Jazmine Bass when she worked in the Wayne County Roads Division in the Bridges Department. On Dec. 5, 2022, it is alleged that Gunn diverted county workers who were paid overtime and took county-owned building materials to build out Bass' store, Romulus Nutrition, located in Romulus. Romulus Nutrition is not a Wayne County enterprise.
On March 24, 2022, the Office of the Wayne County Executive sent the office of the Wayne County Prosecutor an anonymous tip letter about misuse of taxpayer dollars at the Wayne County Roads Division in connection with Romulus Nutrition. The executive' office requested an investigation that was conducted by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office Criminal Investigations Division, assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Our continued cooperation and partnership with the prosecutor's office, emphasizes my commitment to upholding the values of transparency, accountability and integrity in our government. Corruption erodes the trust that our constituents place in us, and I stand firmly against any actions that compromise the well-being of our community,” said Executive Warren C. Evans.
“Public servants dedicate their lives working hard to serve the public. The defendants in this case betrayed public trust by allegedly stealing for personal gain. Hopefully this case will send a message that this conduct will never be accepted in Wayne County,” said Worthy.
Bass was arraigned Aug. 29, in 34th District Court and given a $5,000 personal bond. Gunn was arraigned Tuesday in 34th District Court and given a $5,000 personal bond.
