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Nine Indicted on Criminal Charges in Flint Water Crisis Investigation
The following defendants were charged by Solicitor General Hammoud and Prosecutor Worthy as part of the criminal investigation into the Flint Water Crisis:
- Jarrod Agen - Former Director of Communications and Former Chief of Staff, Executive Office of Gov. Rick Snyder o One count of perjury - a 15-year felony
- Gerald Ambrose - Former City of Flint Emergency Manager o Four counts of misconduct in office - each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
- Richard Baird - Former Transformation Manager and Senior Adviser, Executive Office of Gov. Snyder o One count of perjury - a 15-year felony o One count of official misconduct in office - a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine o One count of obstruction of justice - a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine o One count of extortion - a 20-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
- Howard Croft - Former Director of the City of Flint Department of Public Works o Two counts of willful neglect of duty - each a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
- Darnell Earley - Former City of Flint Emergency Manager o Three counts of misconduct in office - each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
- Nicolas Lyon - Former Director, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services o Nine counts of involuntary manslaughter - each a 15-year felony and/or $7,500 fine o One count of willful neglect of duty - a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
- Nancy Peeler - Current Early Childhood Health Section Manager, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services o Two counts of misconduct in office - each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine o One count of willful neglect of duty - a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
- Richard Snyder - Former Governor of Michigan o Two counts of willful neglect of duty - each a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
- Eden Wells - Former Chief Medical Executive, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services o Nine counts of involuntary manslaughter - each a 15-year felony and/or $7,500 fine o Two counts of misconduct in office - each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine o One count of willful neglect of duty - a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
"This case has nothing to do with partisanship. It has to do with human decency, resurrecting the complete abandonment of the people of Flint, and finally, finally, holding people accountable for the unspeakable alleged atrocities that harmed this city for years," said Prosecutor Worthy. "Pure and simple this case is about justice, truth, accountability, poisoned children, lost lives, shattered families that are still not whole, and simply giving a damn about all of humanity." In April 2014, the water supply reaching thousands of homes, schools and businesses within the City of Flint was switched from water sourced from Lake Huron to the Flint River. As a result of that switch, the Flint Water Crisis quickly became an ongoing public health crisis that has left a lasting impact on thousands of Flint residents. By early 2016, then-Gov. Snyder declared a State of Emergency in Genesee County and an investigation was launched by a private law firm - appointed by then-Attorney General Bill Schuette - that was then designated as the former Office of Special Counsel (OSC).
In late 2018, Attorney General Dana Nessel was elected and upon taking office in 2019, she made decisions to put a conflict wall in place to ensure the criminal investigation and civil litigation following the Flint Water Crisis were conducted by completely separate teams. Nessel decided to lead the civil litigation team. The OSC - which proved to be an unnecessary cost to taxpayers - was no longer needed, and Hammoud and Worthy were tapped to lead the criminal investigation. Citing grave concerns about the investigative approach and legal theories embraced by the former OSC - particularly regarding the pursuit of evidence, Hammoud and Worthy announced in June 2019 the dismissal without prejudice of all pending criminal charges previously brought by the OSC. The prosecution team's voluntary dismissal allowed them to move forward in conducting a thorough, methodical and ethical investigation. The dismissal also was not a determination of any defendant's criminal responsibility, nor was the team precluded from refiling charges against the specified defendants, or adding new charges and additional defendants. Copies of the nine indictments announced today are available here.
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Please note: A criminal charge is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Attorney General's office does not provide photos of defendants, but one may be available from the booking agencies, Genesee County Sheriff's Office.