Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced multiple felony charges against David Coker Jr., a resident of Clare, Michigan. The charges are related to his management of a legislative grant awarded to Complete Health Park, a non-profit organization he established to develop a health and recreation complex.

The 2023 State Budget included a $25 million appropriation for a "community health campus pilot project," earmarked by former Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth. Coker founded Complete Health Park shortly before the state budget was signed into law and applied for the grant through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in October 2023. Later that year, Complete Health Park’s board authorized Coker to manage its finances and entered into a contract with IW Consulting, an entity owned by Coker, to oversee the project's development.

Coker is alleged to have failed to disclose his financial ties to IW Consulting as required by the grant agreement before paying himself on behalf of Complete Health Park. In December 2022, he submitted a financial status report seeking disbursement of over $9 million in grant funds, including more than $820,000 categorized as "other expenses." On January 9, 2023, MDHHS released $9.9 million in grant funds controlled by Coker.

On that same day, it is alleged that Coker transferred the full "other expenses" amount—$820,632—to IW Consulting based on two invoices he allegedly authored and approved. These funds reportedly overstated the value of services rendered and were part of a scheme orchestrated by Coker to divert public funds for personal gain.

"The vast majority of projects that are funded through our state appropriations process support valuable, much-needed programming in our communities," Nessel stated. "Today, we allege Mr. Coker secured the contract for this grant without disclosing to the state that he was paying himself through an LLC and that he embezzled money from a nonprofit, Complete Health Park."

Coker was arraigned on May 14th in the 54A District Court on several charges: one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise; one count of Larceny by False Pretenses greater than $100,000; two counts of Larceny by False Pretenses greater than $100,000 for submitting fraudulent invoices; two counts of Embezzlement by an Agent more than $100,000; and one count of Misappropriation of Public Monies.

Stacie Sampson, Inspector General at MDHHS's Office of Inspector General (OIG), commented: "The Michigan Department of Health and Human Service (MDHHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is committed to aggressively investigating criminal activities... ensuring fiscal stewardship... ensuring funds for MDHHS programs are available... taxpayers’ money is spent on its intended purpose."

This matter was referred to the Department of Attorney General in August 2023 following concerns brought by state legislators about potential misconduct. A preliminary exam is scheduled for May 30th at 8:30 am.

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Please note: For all criminal proceedings, a criminal charge is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The Department does not provide booking photos.