Teal ribbons are a symbol of solidarity with Larry Nassar abuse survivors. (Photo: MSUToday)
Uncool, ladies. Very nasty indeed.
The words greed and betrayal also apply to Ingham County allegations that seven women fraudulently applied for payments from Michigan State University's Healing Assistance Fund for survivors of Larry Nassar's abuse.
Defendants include former varsity basketball players Maxann Reese of Dallas and Donita Johnson of New Baltimore, Chase Michaelson reports at The State News campus paper. Three women reportedly related to Johnson also are accused.
Reese and Johnson, who were teammates from 1997-2000, are charged with nine combined counts of false pretenses between $20,000 and $50,000. Johnson is charged with an additional two counts of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000.
The $10-million fund was created in January 2018 to assist survivors in gaining access to mental health services. The fund was shut down in July 2018 due to administrators flagging counts of fraud. An internal investigation conducted by the MSU Police Department resulted in these seven charges.
Maxanne Reese (Photo: Womens Minor League Basketball Assn.)
A prosecutor says women lied on signed applications for aid they don't deserve. It's called "intent to defraud or cheat [by] a false pretense" under the Michigan Criminal Code and is a felony, if proven.
The student journalist, a junior from Des Moines, Wash., quotes MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant:
"None of those charged are people who have sued the university as a Nassar survivor, nor have they come forward in a public setting like a board meeting or a rally to disclose that they were abused. . . .
"We appreciate MSUPD for being very thorough in its investigation of the reported fraud."
Donita Johnson (Photo: Facebook)
Reese now owns the Dallas Lightning, a minor league women's basketball team. Johnson, who was a Mount Clemens High basketball star, last year opened Thirty4, a custom T-shirt and hoodie shop on Pine Street in that city. The store is named for her MSU jersey number.
The county prosecutor also charges these five women with fraudulently seeking $20,000 to $50,000 (a criminal code range):
- Marcetta Johnson of Clinton Township -- two counts.
- Porter Johnson of Clinton Township -- two counts.
- Tammy Johnson of Clinton Township -- two counts.
- Corey Riley of Inkster -- one count.
- Mary Riley of Inkster -- one count, plus three counts of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000.
All four women named Johnson apparently are related, Mitch Hotts writes at The Macomb Daily.
-- Alan Stamm
