Mark
Mandell, Esq.
Attorney General Bill Schuette deemed the acts of Paul
Seewald and Don Yowchuang a “disgraceful violation of the public trust” on
Tuesday. The two, who worked for former congressman Thaddeus McCotter and were
involved in McCotter’s petition scandal, entered pleas to all but one of the
criminal charges brought against them. Seewald and Yowchuang, along with other
members of McCotter’s Michigan staff, were
involved in the fraudulent copying and altering of petitions that led to
McCotter’s qualification for the 2012 Michigan
One charge remains, however. Conspiracy to Commit a
Legal Act in an Illegal Manner is still pending against both Seewald and
Yowchuang. Judge Marie Braxton is expected to hear an argument on January 9,
2013 from Mr. Seewald’s attorney, Mark Mandell, to have this remaining felony
charge dismissed. Mandell, a partner at the law firm Fausone Bohn, LLP, will
face opposition from the Attorney General’s office when they oppose the motion
in court.
A handful of other McCotter staffers have previously
made pleas in regards to the petition scandal. Members include Lorianne
O’Brady, a former scheduler for the congressman, who pleaded no contest to five
counts of falsely signing a nominating petition as circulator. She has been
sentenced to 20 days in jail or in a work program. Further, O’Brady will serve
probation for 18 months following the sentence, and she has been ordered to pay
over $2,000 in fines.
One member of McCotter’s staff still faces criminal
charges. Mary Melissa Turnbull, who is scheduled to appear for a Pre-Trial
hearing on January 8, 2013, has been charged with one count of Conspiracy to
Commit a Legal Act in an Illegal Manner and one count of falsely signing a
nominating petition as circulator.
These convictions have come as a result of Attorney
General Schuette’s creation of the Public Integrity Unit in 2011. Since its
creation, the unit has filed over 200 charges in various cases involving
corruption at both the state and local levels. The unit continues to pursue
convictions in such fraud and corruption cases.
If you have questions regarding fraud or other legal
issues, please contact Mark Mandell at 248.380.0000 or www.MichiganFraudLawyer.com.
To learn more and read the original articles, please
visit:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121127/METRO01/211270373/1361/McCotter-staffers-enter-pleas-in-petition-fraud-case
and http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-164-46849_47203-290480--,00.html
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