Former Romulus Mayor LeRoy Burcroff, 59, was handed a significant sentence, three years probation and four months of home confinement, for his serious offenses of stealing and misusing over $15,000 in campaign funds.
The 59-year-old was elected mayor of Romulus in 2014 when he established the “Committee to Elect LeRoy D. Burcroff” (CTE).
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Court documents revealed a shocking misuse of trust, as over the next two-and-a-half years, Burcroff deceived donors to his CTE account by diverting campaign funds for his personal benefit rather than for his election.
Officials said Burcroff spent over $3,500 of his campaign donors’ money on a family member’s wedding in November 2017.
Burcroff also spent CTE money on a church fee, a banquet room rental, flowers, and the wedding bar tab.
Court documents also said that the former mayor used CTE funds to pay over $11,600 in dues and expenses to a yacht club in 2017 and 2018, which he used for his personal benefit.
Burcroff also overpaid his yacht club dues using his campaign account, and the yacht club issued a refund, which he deposited into his personal bank account.
In 2018, Burcroff donated $1,000 of campaign funds to a trade industry to receive a promotion at his private sector job. In 2019, the 59-year-old spent over $4,000 of campaign funds on a personal vacation to Florida with friends.
“Trust in our state’s campaign finance system is a critical component of a healthy representative democracy. Mr. Burcroff’s conviction and sentence underscores our commitment to ensuring that the citizens of the Eastern District are represented by public officials who have integrity and are seeking office not for their self-interest but for the good of the people they are elected to represent.
United States Attorney Dawn Ison
“The citizens of Michigan demand and deserve utmost trust and integrity in our campaign finance system. The former mayor’s actions severely undermined the confidence of those who bestowed trust and faith in him and his office. The FBI and law enforcement partners are fully dedicated to fighting public corruption by investigating and exposing corrupt officials whose greed erodes the public’s trust in the government. We will not tolerate misconduct and will do everything we can to ensure justice is served.”
Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan.