Former Assistant Superintendent of Buildings for the City of Detroit Pleads Guilty to Bribery

Charlie Golden, 58, of Novi, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds to one count of bribery, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced. McQuade was joined in the announcement by Andrew G. Arena, Special Agent In Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to Golden’s plea agreement, on October 14, 2011, Golden met with a City contractor whose contracts Golden supervised and accepted a $10,000 bribe payment which Golden intended to use to pay for the installation of a range hood and fan at his privately owned church.

United States Attorney McQuade said, “Stealing money from Detroit taxpayers is not acceptable. Our citizens deserve to have tax dollars spent on city services, not on the preferred charities of public officials.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Arena said, “This plea is another example of the FBI’s commitment to ridding this area of corruption by public officials. Forsaking public trust cannot and will not be tolerated.”

Charlie Golden is released on bond pending his sentencing and was referred to the United States Probation Department for a presentence investigation. Golden faces a statutory maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison or a fine of $250,000, or both.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, the government agreed to recommend that Golden be sentenced within the sentencing guideline range of 10-16 months.

The investigation of this case is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Detroit Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Michael Bullotta.