Former Pontiac City Council Member Sentenced to Prison

Former Pontiac City Councilman Everett Seay was sentenced today to 26 months in prison for accepting bribes, announced United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.

Joining in the announcement was Robert D. Foley, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Seay, 61, of Pontiac, was also ordered to forfeit $10,800 to the United States. The sentence was imposed by in U.S. District Judge Bernard A. Friedman.

According to court documents, beginning in May 2008, Everett Seay met repeatedly with “J.B.,” a person who purported to be a drug dealer from Chicago who was seeking the assistance of members of the Pontiac City Council to obtain a “regulated use” ordinance to open a business to buy and sell gold for the purpose of laundering drug proceeds. Unknown to Seay, J.B. was actually an FBI agent acting in an undercover capacity. During several meetings, Seay solicited and accepted bribe payments from J.B. for his assistance in getting the ordinance passed. Between July and December 2008, Seay received $10,800 in bribe payments from J.B.

United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said, “Public officials who take bribes not only betray the people they serve, but they also erode trust in government.”

Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley stated, “Those who are fortunate enough to serve in positions of public trust are expected to act with honesty and integrity at all times. The FBI is committed to holding individuals accountable for acts of bribery and other abuses.”

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sheldon Light.