Chesterfield Township Supervisor Charged With Bribery As Feds Continue To Investigate Corruption In Macomb County

DETROIT (WWJ) - A third elected official in Macomb County is now facing federal bribery charges.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 57-year-old Michael Lovelock of New Baltimore, the supervisor of Chesterfield Township, accepted more than $30,000 from a company that is doing business with the township.

That company isn't named, but Rizzo Environmental Services — which handles garbage pickup — has been involved in two other bribery cases involving elected officials in Macomb Township and Clinton Township.

[View a copy of the complaint]

Lovelock, who U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said  engaged "in a pattern of corrupt activity," was arrested as part Lovelock's arrest is part of an ongoing and investigation into systemic corruption in multiple municipalities in southeast Michigan, primarily Macomb County.

McQuade says evidenced in these cases include employed telephone wiretaps, consensual audio and video recordings by cooperative individuals, undercover operations, physical surveillance, telephone tracking warrants, and subpoenas of financial records and other documents.

"The citizens of our district deserve elected representatives who make decisions based on the best interests of the community rather than their own corrupt financial interests," McQuade said, in a statement.

"Today's arrest further demonstrates the continuing threat we face of elected officials, at any level of the government, prioritizing personal gain over their sworn obligation to represent their constituents' best interests and uphold the trust afforded to them by the citizens they represent," said David Gelios, Special Agent in Charge, for the Detroit Division of the FBI.
Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"The FBI led Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force will continue to prioritize the investigation of cases involving any
federal, state, or local public officials who solicit and accept bribes in exchange for official acts."

If convicted as charged, Lovelock faces a maximum of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Chesterfield Township Clerk Cindy Berry says she was saddened and disappointed to learn about Lovelock's arrest.

Anyone in Macomb County and beyond who has information regarding public officials  accepting bribes is encouraged to contact the Detroit Division of the FBI at 313-965-2222.