Michigan: Aide and campaign treasurer for indicted Taylor Mayor Rick Sollars on Tuesday admitted to pocketing bribes with the Downriver politician and faces up to five years in federal prison.

Taylor community development manager Jeffrey Baum, 46, is the third person to strike a plea deal with federal prosecutors, moves that leave Sollars scheduled to stand trial alone on corruption charges in January.

Baum was indicted in December 2019 on bribery conspiracy (a five-year felony) and 18 counts of wire fraud, each carrying a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Court filings describe a conspiracy in which Sollars and Baum allegedly helped developers obtain properties from June 2017 until February 2019

Baum admitted conspiring with Sollars and two others: real estate developer Shady Awad and Hadir Altoon, a developer who also owns Dominick's Market.

Awad and Altoon also have pleaded guilty and are awaiting possible prison sentences.

Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin: "We will root out and continue to hold accountable those public officials who betray the public’s trust for their own personal benefit or for the benefit of another.”

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2021/11/30/taylor-aide-guilty-leaving-mayor-rick-sollars-solo-bribery-trial/8805633002/

DETROIT – Dominick’s Market owner and real estate developer, Hadir Altoon, 49, of Farmington Hills, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit bribery with Richard Sollars, Mayor of the City of Taylor, Jeffrey Baum, City of Taylor Community Development Manager, and Shady Awad, real estate developer, Acting United States Attorney Saima S. Mohsin announced.

Altoon will face a guideline sentencing range of between 27 and 33 months of imprisonment, and a maximum fine of up to $250,000.

October 27, 2021

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/store-owner-and-real-estate-developer-pleads-guilty-paying-bribes-city-taylor-officials

Business mogul engulfed in Taylor bribery scandal pleads guilty

Downriver real estate tycoon Shady Awad pleaded guilty Friday morning to conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with a scandal involving Taylor Mayor Rick Sollars and others.

https://www.thenewsherald.com/2021/10/22/business-mogul-engulfed-in-taylor-bribery-scandal-pleads-guilty/