Robert Ficano (FACING RECALL): The 30-year public official is facing a scandal that has put his political career in jeopardy. He initially defended Turkia Mullin’s $200,000 severance after it was exposed by 7 Action News, then demanded it be paid back after the public turned against him. He promised at least 16 other county appointees secret severance deals—one as high as $350,000—which only came to light after the scandal broke. He faces a recall effort by a Plymouth attorney, and has not been named a target by the FBI’s probe.

Azzam Elder (RESIGNED): Elder resigned from his job as Ficano’s deputy in November after the county executive faulted him for his role in issuing Mullin’s severance. Insiders say Elder ran the county while Ficano focused more on media attention, taking on ceremonial duties as the county executive. He was promised a severance deal by Ficano worth up to $350,000 that he’s now fighting in court to receive. He sued Wayne County for wrongful termination in January for $25 million and is believed to be a target of the FBI’s county probe.

Turkia Mullin (FIRED): A September Action News Investigators report into her secret $200,000 severance payment sparked a firestorm of controversy. The former Wayne County Economic Development Chief voluntarily left the county in August to become CEO of Detroit Metro Airport. After news of her severance from the county broke, Mullin was quickly fired by the airport authority and the FBI subpoenaed records related to her time at the county. She is a focus of the FBI’s investigation.

Tahir Kazmi (CHARGED): One of Robert Ficano’s top former aides, he headed up the county’s massive IT department until he resigned in February, the same day the U.S. Attorney charged him with bribery, extortion and obstruction of justice. He is alleged to have extorted trips and cash from a county vendor and later trying to cover it up.

Zaid Alleban (CHARGED): A Kazmi subordinate and friend in the IT department, the FBI says he tried to help cover-up his bosses alleged crimes. The feds claim to have Alleban on recordings telling a county vendor that the money he or she had given to Kazmi was really just loans.

Michael Grundy (INDICTED): A target of the FBI’s probe, sources say Grundy shook down a county healthcare vendor for large bribes in exchange for county contracts as part of a program known as Wayne County Health Choice. He was suspended and later fired by Ficano after he failed to cooperate with the county’s investigation. More recently, it was revealed that he used an unauthorized county credit card to purchase tens of thousands of dollars in meals, gasoline and gifts. He was indicted in March.

Sharon Mattic (FIRED): A Wayne County Health choice accountant fired “for failure to perform her fiduciary duties” while working with Health Choice Director Michael Grundy, her superior.

Tim Taylor (FIRED): The county’s former human resources director was back on a contract when Robert Ficano fired him for his role in approving Mullin’s severance. Ficano never explained what he did, but dismissed him in October.

 Nader Fakhouri (RESIGNED): Known as Ficano’s top money man, he was the county executive’s chief fundraiser and an assistant CEO. Fakhouri’s campaign work has come under scrutiny recently, as county insiders have alleged he often does fundraising and political work on county time. In January, 7 Action News revealed e-mails that showed Fakhouri expected department heads to raise large amounts of money from county vendors they supervised.  He resigned in March, citing health reasons.

Renee Axt (RESIGNED): A lobbyist who made lots of money off brokering county deals with vendors, she was one of Ficano’s four appointees to the Wayne County Airport Authority Board and a friend of Turkia Mullin’s. Ultimately, Axt and the board voted to fire Mullin in October. She resigned from the authority board in November after Ficano said any board members with conflicts of interest should leave their positions.

Carla Sledge: The Wayne County Chief Financial Officer kept her job but netted a $76,000 severance payment from county taxpayers last April. A Ficano spokeswoman said she received the severance—and more than $34,000 in banked leave time—because the CFO had run into challenging financial circumstances, including having to care for a loved one.

Anthony Parlovecchio (FIRED): A former Ficano appointee, he was brought back on a no-bid contract by the Wayne County Building Authority to supervise building of the county’s new $220 million jail. He was fired by the building authority after there was outrage over his contract, but not after billing the county $330,000.

Sam Nouhan: A lawyer whose law firms received several large contracts with the county, Nouhan is also vice-chair of the Wayne County Airport Authority and one of Mullin’s biggest defenders. The FBI is currently probing his business dealings with the county.
 

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