DETROIT – A federal indictment accuses the former Detroit deputy chief of police of bribery conspiracy in connection with towing practices.
Celia Washington was allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in bribes from a towing mogul who had controlling ownership interest in multiple towing companies that had been placed in a single police district.
Towing rules in Detroit prohibit a towing owner from having more than one towing company in each police district or precinct towing rotation.
The towing companies and owner were unnamed in the federal documents.
The indictment alleges Washington told the owner she would use her official position to assist with towing permits and rotation placement.
According to the indictment, Washington met with the owner of the company in February 2016 and requested money, later accepting at least $3,000 in cash.
Court documents detail phone conversations between Washington and the owner about deadlines and towing rotations.
Detroit police Chief James Craig found out about the indictment while holding a news conference Wednesday.
“If that’s true, certainly it’s extremely troubling, certainly a show of betrayal, not only to the men and women of the Detroit Police Department, certainly my office where she worked, but also to the citizens of this city,” Craig said.
Washington served as Craig's legal council and deputy chief of police. Craig called the accusations "a show of betrayal."
Federal officials said in June 2016, Washington helped issue a police towing rotation that continued to allow the owner to violate the city's towing rules. She is accused of directing the owner, his associate and a relative to communicate with her on the towing rotations that he wanted using her private email account.
"Given her role and importance to the operation of the Detroit Police Department, it is critical that the activities of Ms. Washington are free of corruption and bribery," said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch. "We thank Chief of Police James Craig for his assistance in this investigation."
Sources said Washington was helping Detroit towing mogul Boulevard and Trumble owner Gasper Fiore, who is now under indictment on bribery charges in a Clinton Township bribery scheme.
The bribery charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The bribery conspiracy count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Last year, a tow company owner started complaining about not getting jobs he was up for, and the FBI started investigating.
"Today's indictment establishes that former Deputy Police Chief Celia Washington betrayed the men and women of the Detroit Police Department and the citizens of Detroit when she prioritized personal gain over policing excellence which will always place neighborhoods and people first," said David P. Gelios, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Division of the FBI. "The FBI wants the public to know that this conduct is not representative of the Detroit Police Department and we remain grateful for the support of Chief Craig and our law enforcement partners to address corrupt practices wherever those practices exist."
You can watch Shawn Ley's full story in the video posted above.