Former Superintendent of Chesterfield Township Sentenced to Prison for Bribery

Former Chesterfield Township Supervisor, Michael Lovelock, 59, of New Baltimore, Michigan, was sentenced to 24 months in prison today based on his conviction for conspiracy to commit bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider.

Schneider was joined in the announcement by Timothy R. Slater, Special Agent In Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Lovelock was convicted of conspiring with Rizzo Environmental CEO Charles B “Chuck” Rizzo to accept $30,000 in cash bribes from Rizzo between 2010 and 2016.  The bribes were paid by Rizzo in exchange for favorable treatment from Lovelock in connection with Rizzo’s municipal garbage-hauling contract with the township.    

Lovelock is one of twenty defendants charged in the government’s wide-ranging corruption investigation centered in Macomb County, Michigan.  The sentence for Lovelock was reduced based on his cooperation with the government against Rizzo and others.       

“Public officials who desecrate their elected office by selling out for bribes from contractors are among the most deserving of federal prosecution and will be held to account for each and every one of their corrupt misdeeds,” stated United States Attorney Matthew Schneider. 

“Public officials who misuse their position of trust for personal gain, undermine the integrity of their office and deny honest services to the residents they purport to serve” said Timothy R. Slater, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.   "The FBI led Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force will continue to aggressively investigate cases involving any federal, state, or local public officials who solicit and accept bribes in exchange for official acts and will work with our partners to ensure that those who violate their obligation to the public are held accountable.”

This case is part of the government’s wide-ranging corruption investigation centered in Macomb County, Michigan.  The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Gardey, R. Michael Bullotta, Steven Cares, and Adriana Dydell.