Former Deputy Detroit Police Chief Celia Washington was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for accepting nearly $4,000 in cash bribes from a towing company owner who conducted much of his company’s business in Detroit.
Former Deputy Detroit Police Chief Celia Washington was sentenced Thursday to a year and a day in prison for accepting nearly $4,000 in cash bribes from a towing company owner who conducted much of his company’s business in Detroit.
U. S. District Judge David M. Lawson on Thursday, April 19 also ordered Washington to pay a $2,500 fine and undergo two years of supervision upon her release from prison.
The U. S. Attorney’s Office asked Lawson to sentence Washington to two years in prison.
„Celia Washington, an attorney and deputy police chief for the city of Detroit, sold her office and her integrity for several thousand dollars from towing magnate Gasper Fiore,“ assistant U. S. attorneys Michael Bullotta and David A. Gardey wrote in their sentencing memorandum.
Washington, who oversaw municipal towing permits, was accused of rigging towing rotations in certain police precincts so that six companies owned by Fiore — Boulevard & Trumbull, Javion and Sam’s, Gene’s, B&G, E&G and Troy Auto Bans — would receive preferred contracts for service.
Police towing work in Detroit is estimated to be valued in excess of $2 million a year.
Assistant U. S. attorneys claim Washington, in addition to the cash bribes accepted from Fiore, accepted a $5,000 Ford Fusion and allowed Fiore to pay her nearly $800 birthday party bar tab in 2016.
Washington also accepted free oil changes, $2,400 in repair work to her vehicle and a $2,700 loan from another towing company she worked with. The U. S. Attorney’s Office did not name the other company in its sentencing memorandum.
„Sadly, over the past decade, the citizens of Detroit have been front row to public corruption in their City government,“ Assistant U. S. attorneys wrote. „From City Council to the mayor’s office, to the elected mayor himself, public servants have committed felony corruption offenses.“
The Washington investigation is linked to a larger corruption case against Fiore and others that grew out of Macomb County. According to Robert Snell of the Detroit News, the corruption probe has led to charges against 20 people so far.
Fiore admits he attempted to bribe Clinton Township Trustee Dean Reynolds in exchange for lucrative municipal contracts.
Fiore in December entered into an agreement with the U. S. Attorney’s Office in which he’ll plead guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program bribery. The agreement calls for Fiore to serve 1 1/2 to 2 years in prison with up to 3 years supervised release and $250,000 in fines.
His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 2.
