Michigan State Executive - Attorney General
State Government: Executive Offices | Attorney General / Department of Justice
Recent News About Michigan State Executive - Attorney General
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Former Kent County advisor sentenced after paying restitution for embezzling from clients
Earlier this week, former Kent County investment advisor Jaime Westenbarger, 46, now residing in Nashville, TN, was sentenced to 30 to 240 months of incarceration by Judge Scott A. Noto in the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County. This sentencing follows one count of Embezzlement $100,000 or More. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Westenbarger received a concurrent sentence of 30 to 180 months for one count of Embezzlement $50,000 or More But Less Than $100,000.
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Michigan AG Nessel signs bill banning predatory right-to-list agreements
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel signed Senate Bill 602 into law today while serving as acting governor. Nessel was accompanied by members of the Michigan Realtors, representatives of the Department of Attorney General, and her son.
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Ithaca woman charged with embezzling from vulnerable adult
Cheryl Colburn, 65, of Ithaca, was arraigned on Monday in the 64B District Court in Stanton before Magistrate Brian G. Wagner on one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult, $1,000 - $20,000, a five-year felony, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Colburn, who was serving as the professional guardian and conservator of the victim, allegedly kept the victim’s property for her own benefit.
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Coalition urges FEMA recognition for extreme heat & wildfire smoke as major disasters
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general in petitioning the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update its regulations to recognize extreme heat and wildfire smoke events as eligible for major disaster declarations under the Stafford Act. The petition also seeks to clarify that wildfire smoke events are eligible for Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) funding.
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AG Nessel praises judge's decision on FTC's noncompete ban
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel commended Judge Kelley Hodge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for rejecting a challenge to block the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ban on noncompete agreements. Nessel, who previously joined a multistate coalition supporting the FTC rule, praised the decision in April to implement a nationwide ban on noncompete agreements.
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Burtchville woman pleads guilty to embezzling over $86k from elderly ward
LANSING – Yesterday, Lisa Marie Tramski, 57, of Burtchville, pled guilty in the 31st Circuit Court in St. Clair County to one count of embezzlement of $50,000 or more but less than $100,000, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Tramski embezzled more than $86,000 from an elderly woman after becoming her court-appointed guardian. Tramski will pay $51,600.75 in restitution prior to sentencing as part of the plea.
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Attorney General Nessel opposes UPPCO's proposed $16.9 million rate increase
LANSING – On Friday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed testimony with the Michigan Public Service Commission, arguing for significant reductions to Upper Peninsula Power Company’s (UPPCO) latest electric rate hike request. UPPCO filed its request with the Commission in March, seeking a 16% rate hike for all customers to raise $16.9 million in added revenue. The company also aims to raise its profit margin on infrastructure investments from 9.9% to 10.7%, potentially making it the highest return on equity in the state and possibly the nation.
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Governor Whitmer signs bills imposing stricter penalties on auto theft tools
LANSING – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation that Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel describes as a significant step toward curbing auto thefts across the state. House Bill 5182, sponsored by state Representative Denise Mentzer, and House Bill 5183, sponsored by state Representative Alabas Farhat, impose stricter penalties for possessing traditional burglar tools or electronic devices intended to break into motor vehicles with the intent to steal. The new law classifies this offense as a 5-year felony or a 10-year felony if part of a criminal enterprise.
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Attorney General secures major reduction in Consumers Energy's proposed natural gas rate hike
LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and other intervening parties have reached a settlement, approved today by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), to reduce Consumers Energy’s latest natural gas rate hike by nearly 75%. Consumers Energy initially requested to increase revenues from their ratepayers by $136 million. The settlement allows for only $35 million in additional revenue, keeping more than $100 million in the pockets of Consumers' ratepayers. Additionally, a bill credit will be applied to Consumers Energy natural gas customers' bills over a...
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Attorneys general file amicus brief supporting Oregon's drug pricing transparency law
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America v. Stolfi, supporting laws that increase drug price transparency. The amicus brief, filed in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, supports Oregon's defense of House Bill 4005. This law requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to report certain information about new prescription drugs and historical pricing data for existing drugs.
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Branch County man faces trial on multiple charges including alleged sexual assaults
LANSING – Anthony Cuyler, 46, a Branch County resident recently extradited from Mexico, has been bound over to stand trial in the 15th Circuit Court in Branch County. The charges include three counts of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, one count of Delivery of Methamphetamine to a Minor, one count of Possession of Methamphetamine, and one count of Possession of Ammunition by a Felon. This was announced by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
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Union City man extradited from Mexico faces multiple charges including sexual assault
LANSING – Anthony Cuyler, 46, a Branch County resident recently extradited from Mexico, has been bound over to stand trial in the 15th Circuit Court in Branch County. He faces three counts of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, one count of Delivery of Methamphetamine to a Minor, one count of Possession of Methamphetamine, and one count of Possession of Ammunition by a Felon, as announced by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
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Attorney General Nessel warns of new government imposter scam targeting Michigan residents
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is urging residents to be vigilant against a new impersonation scam targeting consumers. The scam involves individuals posing as representatives offering “free government money from the CARES Act,” claiming the funds are expiring soon in an effort to steal personal information.
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Ludington woman pleads no contest to second-degree child abuse
Tara Treesh, 36, of Ludington, pled no contest yesterday to one count of Second-Degree Child Abuse, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Treesh’s plea accompanies an agreement extended by the court to sentence her to 20 months to 10 years’ incarceration. Treesh was charged in November 2022 with one count each of Second-Degree Child Abuse, Maintaining a Drug House, and Possession of Methamphetamine.
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Hillsdale County sergeant to stand trial for alleged assaults on jail inmate
LANSING – Ronald Leggitt, 43, of Marshall, waived preliminary examination and was bound over to stand trial in the 1st Judicial Circuit Court in Hillsdale County on seven felonies for alleged assaults of a county jail inmate under his supervision at the Hillsdale County Jail in December 2021, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. At the time of the alleged assaults, Leggitt was employed as a sergeant by the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Department.
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Michigan AG defends utility bill savings at state supreme court
Last week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel successfully defended utility bill savings for Indiana Michigan Power Company (I&M) customers at the Michigan Supreme Court. The appeal followed a March 2021 application that I&M filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) seeking to recover millions of dollars incurred to purchase or produce electric power for its customers in Michigan. Part of these costs included money I&M paid an affiliate power generator. The Attorney General intervened and argued that I&M paid more than comparable market prices for the power...
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Grand Haven man pleads guilty in mass mPerks cyber theft case
LANSING – Yesterday, Nicholas Mui, 22, of Grand Haven, pled guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise in the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County for the systemic theft and sale of account access information tied to mPerks accounts, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. With his plea, Mui will forfeit his computer tower and approximately $630,000 in frozen cryptocurrency and cash.
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Oscoda man found guilty of threatening former landlord
LANSING – On Friday, an Iosco County jury seated in the 23rd Circuit Court found Dominque Simo, 40, of Oscoda, guilty of one count of Malicious Use of a Telecommunications Device for threatening Iosco County Prosecuting Attorney James A. Bacarella, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The two men had a previous landlord-tenant relationship. The penalty for the misdemeanor is up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, and the State will seek a sentence inclusive of mandated mental health treatment.
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AG reviews fatal Dec 2023 Lansing police shooting
LANSING – The Department of Attorney General announced today that it has concluded its review of the December 1, 2023, officer-involved shooting death of Stephen Luis Romero, 33, of Lansing. The review found that the officers acted in self-defense and no charges will be issued against them. The investigation was conducted by the Michigan State Police.
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Attorney General warns against scams during upcoming Amazon Prime Day
With Amazon Prime Day fast approaching on July 16 and 17, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reminding consumers to stay vigilant as the shopping event also attracts scammers looking to exploit unsuspecting customers.