"The project was led by officials who are no longer with the county but have been cited as the focus of the FBI investigation — former economic development director Turkia Mullin and Azzam Elder.

County commissioners have said they were pressured to approve bonds in late 2010 to take advantage of a federal program that offered low interest rates on bonds. They approved the jail over warnings from their staff.
"It is still unclear how this project would benefit Wayne County from a financial perspective," a commission analyst wrote in a 2011 report.
The county bought the jail site in 2011 for $14 million from Greektown Casino. Ficano's former deputy executive, Charlie J. Williams, made $420,000 in brokerage fees on the deal.
Walbridge Aldinger was selected over objections from contractors who complained the process favored the company. Its CEO, John Rakolta, served on a board of a nonprofit led by Mullin that was paying her a $75,000 bonus atop her $200,000 salary.

Mullin's former aide, Anthony Parlovecchio, left the county in February 2011 and was hired to ensure the jail project was on time and budget. The job was to pay him as much as $1.9 million; he was fired at Ficano's behest over concerns about a conflict of interest. He has sued the county.


From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...#ixzz2VLxJdSf9


Turkey Mullin and more unethical shenanigans. What a surprise!