Watch CBS News

Ex-Michigan State Police Trooper Charged With Embezzling More Than $170K

DETROIT (WWJ) - A now-former Michigan State Police trooper has been charged with embezzlement for allegedly stealing over $171,000 that was supposed to go to the state.

According to the Michigan Attorney General's Office, Trooper Seth Swanson accepted $100 fees from salvage companies for vehicle inspections over a five-year period and then pocketed the cash.

Spokesperson Andrea Bitely said, between August 2014 and December 2015, Swanson allegedly falsified the paperwork claiming he had checked the cars against stolen vehicle records.

"I can tell you that our office, in conjunction with the Michigan State Police and Secretary of State, are working together to make sure that all vehicles involved in this case have, actually have a proper salvage vehicle inspection," Bitely told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "And we'll contact the registered owners of the vehicles to make sure we arrange for now inspection in a timely manner."

The AG's office worked along with the FBI's Public Corruption Task Force to crack the case.

As a result of the investigation, Swanson was suspended without pay effective Feb. 10. He then resigned from the force on Oct. 24, 2016.

"Police officers are given great trust and responsibility, and for that reason are held to a higher standard," said Schuette. "When you break the trust you are given and in the process break the law, there are consequences, no matter who you are or what your profession. I want to thank the Michigan State Police and FBI's Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force for their hard work on this investigation."

Swanson was arraigned before Chief Judge Michelle Appel of  in 45-B District Court in Oak Park and then released on a $10,000 bond.

As a condition of his bond, Appel ordered that Swanson surrender his concealed pistol license and passport.

Swanson had been a state-certified salvage vehicle inspector since 2011.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.