Eastpointe mayor sentenced to 6 months probation in COVID fraud case

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – The mayor of Eastpointe has been sentenced for fraudulently applying for a grant under the CARES Act in November 2020.

Background: Eastpointe mayor charged with fraudulently applying for grant under CARES Act

According to authorities, Monique Owens had fraudulently applied by claiming her business was 51% veteran-owned and had between 100-249 employees. She received $10,000 from the Macomb County grant.

She pled no contest to making a false statement in September and paid $10,000 to Macomb County in restitution.

Owens was sentenced Thursday, Nov. 9, to six months of probation and 100 hours of community service at a nonprofit organization.

Owens was elected mayor in 2019, but failed to make the general election ballot for the 2023 election. She will be succeeded by Michael Klinefelt, who was elected Tuesday, Nov. 7.