FBI Snares Contractor In Macomb County Corruption Probe

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — A Macomb County contractor is the latest to be charged in connection with the government’s wide-ranging corruption investigation centered on trash hauler Rizzo Environmental Services and public officials from several Macomb County municipalities.

Christopher Sorrentino, 51, of Macomb Township, was charged Monday with one count of structuring financial transactions to avoid currency reporting requirements, Acting United States Attorney Daniel Lemisch said in a news release. Federal officials allege Sorrentino paid a public official a cash kickback of $66,000.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that public official is ex-Macomb Township Trustee Dino Bucci. The former Macomb County Public Works department employee has not been charged in the case, the newspaper reports.

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Lemisch alleges that in November of 2014, Sorrentino accepted a check from Macomb Township in payment for work he did not perform. Sorrentino deposited the township check into his bank account and then wrote and cashed seven checks to total $66,000, Lemisch said. The money was then given to the Macomb Township official.

Sorrentino was charged on information. During the investigation, several other defendants charged on information worked out plea deals. A total of 14 defendants have been charged so far.

The investigations are being conducted by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service. If convicted, Sorrentino faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

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