FBI executes search warrants at homes of two Detroit politicians amid bribery probe

DETROIT - The FBI executed search warrants this morning at the homes of Councilwoman Janeé Ayers and Councilman Scott Benson, as well as at Detroit city hall, a spokeswoman for the federal law enforcement agency said.

The investigation into Ayers and Benson comes about a month after federal prosecutors filed a bribery conspiracy charge against Councilman Andre Spivey.

Detroit is no stranger to state and federal corruption investigations, with three major ones conducted since 2008, including against former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump.

FBI spokeswoman Mara Schneider said this morning that agents are at Ayers' home and at Detroit city hall.

"We are conducting a search warrant there," she said of Ayers' home. "We are also at city hall."

She said she was not immediately aware whether the investigation into Ayers was related to the charge facing Spivey.

Messages left at Ayers' and Benson's city council offices were not immediately returned.

Tim Waters, FBI special agent in charge in Michigan, spoke to reporters outside Detroit city hall, confirming that the FBI executed search warrants at a number of locations in southeast Michigan including Detroit city hall.

"Why are we doing this? Why are we doing these search warrants? The citizens of Detroit have a right to a city government that is free of corruption," Waters said.

Waters added that there were no new people charged in the investigation. The FBI is collecting evidence to present to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which will make any decisions about potential charges.

Several agents could be seen carrying boxes out of city hall shortly after Waters spoke.

Who is under investigation?

Ayers was appointed to council in 2015 after the resignation of former councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins and won a special election in 2016. Detroit voters elected her to a full term in 2017.

Ayers won a closely fought primary election earlier this month and was the top vote-getter for the at-large seat. She's slated to face off against Coleman Young II in the November general election.

Benson moved on to the general election this fall without a primary challenger.

Investigation into Andre Spivey: Detroit Councilman Andre Spivey and office worker allegedly accepted $35,000 in bribes

On Wednesday morning, police blocked off the street as federal agents searched Ayers' home. Several officers prohibited the public and reporters from approaching the councilmember's home during the search.

Rickie Holt, 65, who lives on the same street, said he was making coffee shortly before 10 a.m. when he noticed several officers pulled up and blocked off the street.

"Every time somebody's getting ready to walk up there, they're pushing them away," Holt said regarding the agents on site.

Detroit corruption: The Corrupt Quartet: A look back at other Detroit Council members charged with wrongdoing

Holt said he saw agents coming in and out of the house, holding "various bags and little cases" coming in and out of a car parked in front of the house. But Holt said the federal search warrants did not dissuade him from supporting Ayers.

"I believe her leadership is definitely in what the people want for the city. I believe she has a good heart for the people of the city of Detroit," he said.

At Benson's home — a brick, corner home with campaign signs in the lawn — more than a dozen officials wheeled out large, black containers, at about 11:15 a.m.

Denise Quick, a neighbor, said she was working from home, when at about 9 a.m., she looked out her window and saw eight unmarked cars filled with federal agents, and a marked State Police squad car, pulled up to the councilman's house.

"I don't know what's going on," Quick said. "But it's sad."

Federal charge against Andre Spivey

In the Spivey case, federal prosecutors alleged that the councilman and an unnamed worker on his staff accepted more than $35,000 in bribery payments. The payments were part of an alleged bribery conspiracy from 2016 to 2020 to influence city business, prosecutors said.

Federal prosecutors charged Spivey with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Spivey is not running for re-election.

"Mr. Spivey has been fully cooperating with the federal authorities for over a year. At no time has he been combative or elusive," Spivey's attorney, Elliott Hall, said in a statement late last month.

Spivey was released on an unsecured bond of $10,000 under several conditions, including immediately surrendering his passport, restricting travel to the continental United States, avoiding contact with witnesses and non-work-related contact with "Public Official A" and surrendering any concealed pistol license within 48 hours of his release.

Detroit's history of corruption probes

Federal investigations into Detroit city government have a long history.

In 2008, the Free Press published text messages that showed ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick lied during a police whistleblower trial when he testified that he did not have an affair with his chief of staff, Christine Beatty, and gave misleading testimony about the firing of a deputy police chief.

Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison following his 2013 conviction on a slew of public corruption crimes, including racketeering, bribery, fraud and extortion. He lost his appeals but found his second chance when President Donald Trump commuted his sentence 20 years early.

In June of this year, former Detroit Councilman Gabe Leland was sentenced to 2½ years probation for state misconduct in office. Leland pleaded guilty in May to a felony misconduct in office and resigned from Detroit City Council. The former council member had accepted $7,500 campaign contributions in cash, a violation of the law.

He was accused of seeking $15,000 from Detroit businessman Bob Carmack in exchange for blocking the city from selling land that Carmack claimed he owned. Carmack previously said he paid the councilman $7,500 to prevent the city from selling his property.

Former council member Monica Conyers was sentenced to 37 months in prison in 2010 after pleading guilty to accepting money in exchange for her vote on a sludge-hauling contract. Previous council aides also faced various bribery charges.

Contact Joe Guillen: jguillen@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: FBI raids homes of 2 Detroit politicians amid ongoing bribery probe