Detroit Cops Busted: Scheme Has 'Plagued' Department, Chief Says

DETROIT, MI – A criminal investigation over police officers extorting bribes from local auto collision repair shops "plagued" the department for years, said Police Chief James Craig on Wednesday.

Indictments were handed down on two officers on Wednesday, and four other officers, who have left the department, have pleaded guilty to extortion charges. Two other officers also are facing administrative charges in the investigation and could lose their jobs, said Craig, who termed the allegations against all the officers as "troubling."

"These are serious charges," Craig said during a briefing on Wednesday. "This issue has plagued this department, in varying degrees, for 10 to 12 years ...We believe we can finally close this chapter of those 10-12 years."

Federal indictments against current officers Deonne Dotson, 45, and Charles Wills, 52, were handed down Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit. Dotson faces six counts of extortion and Willis four counts, according to a statement from Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch's office.

The indictment for Wills indicates that he received four payments, dated Sept. 5, 2014 through Oct. 28, 2014, and the ranged in value from $800 to $2,400, and totaled $5,600. The indictment for Dotson indicates that he took six bribes from May 2014 to September 2014, and they ranged in value from $500 to $1,600, and totaled $6,650.

The collision repair shops involved in the scam were not identified. Craig said they were victims of extortion in the scam.

Wills and Dotson have been on restricted duty since they became part of the part of the investigation, Craig said. The chief said that he expects they will be suspended without pay.

The indictments against Dotson and Wills come after four retired cops – James Robertson, 45, Jamil Martin, 46, Martin Tutt, 29, and Anthony Careathers, 52 – have pleaded guilty to extortion charges. All six officers were charged with engaging in extortion for using their official positions refer cars to certain collision shops in exchange for cash payment, according to Lemisch's statement.

"The vast majority of Detroit Police Officers are courageous, dedicated, superb public servants," Lemisch said. "The charged defendants should have put the people of Detroit first, rather than lining their own pockets."

Two other officers, who have not been identified, are being investigated on administrative charges, as well, Craig said. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, those two officers could lose their jobs, the chief said. It is unlikely that they will face criminal charges, Craig said.

Dotson will be arraigned in federal court on Dec. 19. The arraignment date for Wills has not been set. Each of the extortion charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Robertson, Martin, Tutt, and Carethers, who either resigned or retired from the force earlier this year, will be sentenced in 2018 by U.S. District Judge Robert Cleland, according to Lemisch's statement.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Detroit Police Department.

Detroit Police Chief James Craig discusses criminal charges against officers:

Image via Detroit Police Facebook