Crime

Detroit businessman Bob Carmack to stand trial on fraud charges

May 24, 2019, 4:02 PM

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Bob Carmack. (Photo: Nancy Derringer)

The Detroit businessman waging war on Mayor Mike Duggan will stand trial on allegations that he fraudulently sold a piece of land owned by the city for $1 million.

Bob Carmack was bound over for trial Friday afternoon by 36th District Court Judge Cylenthia Miller, according to reports. He's argued the city deeded him the land years ago, but the city has claimed he failed to take the necessary steps to finalize the paperwork.

According to The Detroit News the judge says the central question is "what Mr. Carmack understood about the documents he received."

Miller said she is duty bound to bind the case over because of many questions surrounding the process in how the city of Detroit officials handled the deed obtained by Carmack.

But the judge added "I have serious concerns, serious concerns" with the [prosecution's] case.

Carmack is charged with four felonies in relation to the sale of the property in Detroit's Delray. 

According to the News, the prosecutor handling the case argued Carmack defrauded the city when he failed to "consummate" the sale of the property before selling it to an Illinois developer. Carmack, according to Assistant Genesee County prosecutor Patrick Mccombs, never showed the clerk's office an original deed, but rather an affidavit saying the original had been lost. He was also accused of failing to follow up to find a replacement deed.

Carmack's lawyer, meanwhile, argued the deed was approved by Detroit City Council and signed and executed by top city officials, including the chief coorporation counsel at that time.

"Nowhere (on the deed) does it appear that says draft, copy sample, not a legal document . . . nothing," [said Carmack's co-counsel, Steve Haney.]


Read more:  The Detroit News


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