Feds charge another top level Ficano appointee with accepting a bribe

The feds have charged another top level Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano appointee with accepting a bribe. 

David Edwards was the Deputy Director of the Department of Technology.  He abruptly resigned from Wayne County last month. 

According to a complaint filed in federal court today, the U. S. Attorney says Edwards accepted $13,000 in cash from a private contractor, intending to be rewarded in connection with his official county duties. 

Edwards took over Wayne County’s Information Technology department from Tahir Kazmi, who was charged in February with extorting an IT vendor, theft, and obstruction of justice. 

The feds also charged another former IT appointee, Zayd Alleban, with obstruction of justice.

A spokeswoman for the U. S. Attorney’s office said because Edwards was charged with a complaint, a plea deal is likely in the works.  He is the fourth Ficano appointee to be charged criminally in the wake of the severance scandal that was first exposed by the 7 Action News Investigators.  A fifth person, Keith Griffin, has been also charged in connection with the federal probe, and on Thursday is expected to enter a guilty plea in federal court.

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano issued this written statement: “We have fully cooperated with the federal investigation every step of the way and will continue to do so. We remain committed to eliminating any wrong-doing. Anyone found guilty of any illegal activity should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and we will help the federal authorities as they pursue justice."

In the wake of this new federal charge, Wayne County Commissioner Laura Cox just issued a statement calling for Ficano's resignation. Cox says she plans to introduce a resolution May 17, asking Ficano "...to immediately vacate the office."