Federal probe of metro Detroit fraud scheme nets 8 charges
Hussein "Sam" Nazzal, Edward Schneider, Majed Taube, Mounif Zeaiter and Amneh TaubeDETROIT — A total of eight people including a Dearborn restaurant owner have been charged in federal court for their alleged actions in a widespread fraud scheme that included falsified documents, bribes and fake marriages.The charges were announced by...Michigan dealerships among those named in federal complaint for funneling money to Hizbullah, which rejects charges
NEW YORK – A total of eight car dealerships in Michigan have been named in a complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney in New York's Southern District, alleging that they have been working with the Lebanese group Hizbullah, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the U.S. government, to funnel money into the United States and buy cars...Two men enter pleas in Dearborn Starters “inside job” robbery case
DEARBORN/DETROIT – For nine years, Baha and Mariam Saad employed Alejandro “Eric” Jimmerson at their Starters Bar & Grill business in Fairlane Mall in Dearborn and eventually allowed him stay in one of their rented houses while paying his utilities so he could get back on his feet. But now, Jimmerson will spend at least...Man arrested for Dearborn home invasion
DEARBORN – A break-in in the 6400 block of Appoline on Dec. 2 led to the arrest of 21-year-old Fawaz Al-Said, a Dearborn resident who is known to the victim.Evidence was found allegedly linking Al-Said to the incident after a break-in was reported while family members were out of the area. The victim said the man waited for the...Ethnic intimidation charge for attack on Muslim teen
SOUTHFIELD — On Tuesday, Dec. 6, The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) welcomed the "ethnic intimidation" charge brought against the alleged assailant of a Muslim student in Saline, Mich., who was allegedly called a"terrorist" and punched in the face while walking near his high school.Police had...Five accused of running online prostitution ring dubbed ‘Detroit Pink’
DETROIT — Five southeast Michigan residents accused of running an online prostitution ring and human trafficking in drugs and sex face a laundry list of felony charges including racketeering, Attorney General Bill Schuette announced this week.The five include Mustaffa Hassan Muhammad, 31, of Detroit; his estranged wife, Tara Muhammad,...New $300 million courthouse to be built in Wayne County
DETROIT — A new courthouse costing as much as $300 million that will pay off more than $50 million in court debt as part of a settlement from a lawsuit was approved last week by the Wayne County Commission according to local news reports.The county's court system will be cut by around 15% in order to settle a long-running lawsuit...Michigan considering allowing stun guns
LANSING — A new bill in the Michigan Legislature could make the Great Lakes State the country's 45th to allow stun guns to be carried for self-defense.The guns have been blamed in lawsuits previously as causing deaths but those in favor believe they are much less dangerous than guns. The Michigan Senate approved the bill 35-3...Detroit City Council seeks 500 public safety job cuts, transit fare hikes
DETROIT — Among the budget recommendations from the Detroit City Council for cuts sent to Mayor Dave Bing are layoffs of 500 public safety employees, cutting executive salaries and a raise in fares for the People Mover and buses.Altogether, it amounts to about $68 million in cuts. It is not known whether Bing will accept any of the...Burglars break into Dearborn homes on Thanksgiving
DEARBORN — On Thanksgiving day burglars entered six homes in Dearborn. Police say the incidents occurred during the afternoon on the holiday. In every break-in the burglars opened or broke out a window in the back side of the homes. Items stolen included jewelry and electronics. Homeowners were not home during the break-ins....Latest Detroit ATM theft continues troublesome pattern
DETROIT — Last week, thieves rammed a stolen green pickup into a BP gas station at Warren and I-75, missing the ATM and then leaving after they were unable to haul it away.Store owner Obi Ali, one of many Arab American business owners in the city, said that about $20,000 worth of damage was done according to the Detroit Free Press. The...Click It or Ticket campaign begins this weekend
LANSING — Police all over the Midwest are planning to step up enforcement of seat belt and other traffic laws during Thanksgiving weekend.Michigan officers and others from neighboring states are mobilizing for extra enforcement during the holiday period, with the "Click It Or Ticket" effort running from Thursday through...Police seek help identifying Arabian Village robbery suspects
DEARBORN — The Arabian Village Market located at 10040 Dix was the target of a break-in and robbery by two unknown males on Sunday, Nov. 13, in an incident captured on video.The video shows suspects entering the business after breaking the glass in the front door before exiting with stolen merchandise and fleeing before police could...Dearborn cab driver survives multiple stabbings by customer
DEARBORN — On Friday, Nov. 11, Oussama Abouarabi, a cab driver, was stabbed 16 times by a customer who was picked up at the city's Hyatt Regency Hotel. After sitting down in the backseat, the man reportedly said he wanted to go to Mexican Town but then said he didn't like the route that was being taken and told him to travel on...Michigan anti-bullying bill passes with protection for religion, morality
LANSING — The state of Michigan passed a new anti-bullying law last week in the House, HB 4163, that is an amendment of the original anti-bullying law. The state is one of three that doesn't have an anti-bullying bill on the books. The newly-amended bill has the Section 8 "religious and moral exemption" removed. The......
Henry Ford Community College reported possible threat
DEARBORN — About 18,000 students received news of a possible threat earlier this week via text and email alerts.Campus officials were alerted to the possible threat of someone who was "possibly thinking about shooting some HFCC students" according to a report from WWJ. The report said that it was unclear how valid the threats...Michigan public law defense system being reviewed
LANSING — Michigan's law public defense system is often cited as one of the worst in the country according to a Michigan Public Radio report, but a state commission is now working to give those accused of a crime access to adequate legal defense. The state currently allows each county to be in charge of its own system of public...Enforcement of nuisance vehicle violations to increase in November
DEARBORN – Dearborn Police will begin increasing enforcement of nuisance vehicles stored on private property starting on Nov. 1. Those with a title to an unwanted vehicle are encouraged to use the city's amnesty program by calling Rusko's Towing at 313.274.4550 to avoid a $500 fine. Unwanted vehicles will be towed for no cost. The...Bacall gets life sentence in shooting death of nephew
DETROIT — Detroit businessman Hayes Bacall, a Chaldean immigrant, has been sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of first-degree murder in August of his nephew, Saif Jameel, at Jameel's BP gas station in Troy. Police and prosecutors said Bacall was angry over a $400,000 loan that Jameel had stopped making payments on......
Food stamp fraud raids net 11 suspects
DETROIT — A total of 11 people have been arrested in a recent sweep including one store owner from Dearborn, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade announced on Wednesday. The U.S. government has begun focusing more on alleged cases of food stamp fraud during which the stamps can be exchanged for...Michigan experiencing least traffic deaths since 1940s
LANSING — The state of Michigan has continued to see traffic fatality numbers since 2008 under the 1,000-per-year mark for the first time since 1943 according to a report from Michigan Radio. Experts believe the reduced deaths are due to improved car safety technologies such as airbags, seat belts and other engineering......
Dearborn among cities with violent crime increase in 2010
DEARBORN — An FBI report released on Monday, Sept. 19 shows that Dearborn was one of two communities in Michigan with increases in violent crime from 2009 to 2010 among those in the top ten. Dearborn jumped from 339 incidents to 373 according to FBI statistics while Clinton Township jumped from 277 to 351. Overall, Flint had...Gas station owner, bookkeeper convicted of tax crime
DETROIT — A federal jury last week reached a verdict of "guilty" against Elsayed Kazem "Tom" Safiedine and Mary Fawaz according to the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service. Safiedine and Fawaz were found guilty of conspiring to defraud the United States by impeding and impairing the lawful functions of the IRS.......