The feds are moving against Taylor Mayor Rick Sollars, filing liens on his two houses in what appears to be an expanding investigation of possible racketeering, bribery, wire fraud and money laundering, The Detroit News reports. The FBI raided Sollars' home and office in city hall last month. New documents shed more light on what they might be after.
Taylor Mayor Rick Sollars
One week after the Feb. 19 raids, prosecutors filed liens against the Downriver politician's home and his cottage near Cement City. Prosecutors want the approximately $600,000 worth of real estate forfeited to the government upon conviction.
The liens serve as a looming threat against Sollars and reference some of the most severe white-collar crimes prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Wire fraud and the racketeering charge are punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.
...“This makes sure the property isn’t suddenly sold or transferred,” (Wayne State University law professor Peter) Henning said. “The government wants to preserve their interest in it.”
It's unclear what led to the investigation, but it may be tied to the case involving Gasper Fiore, the towing magnate sent to prison last year for bribing public officials in exchange for lucrative towing contracts.
