Eastpointe Mayor Monique Owens accused of fraud, facing charges – Detroit News
Eastpointe Mayor Monique Owens appeared in court Thursday on a charge stemming from her reported fraudulent application for a COVID-19 grant, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.
Owens is accused of fraudulently applying to a CARES ACT grant in November 2020, according to a news release from Prosecutor’s Office. She received $10,000, the prosecutor said.
Owens was arraigned on a felony charge of false pretenses, carrying a maximum sentence of five years and a $20,000 fine, according to court records. Bond was set at $10,000.
“I will not shy away from public corruption cases,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido in the release. “This is not the first time my office has authorized charges involving a public servant during my two years as a county prosecutor. I ran for office to clean up public corruption.”
Owens wasn’t immediately available for comment.
The mayor is innocent until proven guilty, said Councilman Cardi DeMonaco Jr. However, it’s difficult for the community with the announcement of charges against its mayor.
“If it is true, it’s unfortunate that there are people during the pandemic running businesses during a very stressful time that could have potentially gotten money to help them with their business and instead, now $10,000 potentially went to somebody that should not have received it,” DeMonaco said.
In 2019, Owens became the city’s youngest and first Black mayor, according to the city’s website. Her term has been marked with controversy.
Last year, four Eastpointe residents sued the city and Owens over how they were treated during the public comments portion of council meetings , which the residents alleged violated their First Amendment rights and showed “impermissible viewpoint discrimination.” The suit largely accused Owens of abusing her authority during public meetings and silencing critics.
A federal judge in Detroit in December issued an injunction blocking Eastpointe officials, including the mayor, from stopping residents from commenting about officials or issues of concern during public meetings.
At the council’s Jan. 17 meeting, Owens ended the meeting with a lengthy lecture to residents, members of governance and the media, saying there’s a lot of negative attention on Eastpointe and that residents are responsible for rises in crime rates.
“That’s why the crime comes to the city because they’re watching how you don’t respect your own mayor or your own Police Department. People watch us how you’re trying to sue your own community,” Owens said. “Don’t blame the mayor for your city. Blame yourself, because it’s deep-rooted. It’s been here before I got here.”
Owens is due back in court April 11 for a probable cause conference.
anichols@detroitnews.com
