Taylor Mayor’s Fraud Scheme Crashes Down, Taking Campaign Cash with It” ?

Former Mayor Richard Sollars of Taylor, Michigan, receives 71-month prison sentence for bribery and campaign fund fraud, marking a significant breach of public trust.

Corruption in Office: A Mayor’s Fall from Grace

DETROIT — Richard Sollars, the former mayor of Taylor, Michigan, was sentenced to 71 months in prison after being found guilty of bribery conspiracy and wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced on Tuesday. The sentence concludes an investigation revealing Sollars exploited his office between 2016 and 2018 by engaging in corrupt practices with local contractors and misappropriating campaign funds for personal gain.

United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison, joined by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the FBI, emphasized that Sollars betrayed the trust of the public and used his position to enrich himself at the expense of the citizens he was elected to serve.

Bribery and Campaign Fraud Schemes Uncovered

During his tenure as mayor, Sollars directed the City of Taylor to award the majority of its tax-foreclosed properties to Realty Transition, a company owned by his co-defendant, Shady Awad. As part of the scheme, Sollars received over $85,000 in bribes, including home renovations, kitchen appliances, and cash, in exchange for recommending the company for city contracts. Items such as a humidor, Dyson vacuum cleaner, and camera were among the luxury goods Sollars acquired through the illicit scheme.

In addition to the bribery, Sollars misused campaign funds intended for his re-election efforts. He instructed his treasurer to sign blank campaign checks, which he then funneled through Dominick’s Market using fraudulent invoices for catering services that were never provided. The court found that Sollars diverted $70,362.98 from campaign donors for his personal use through this scheme.

Officials React to Sollars’ Conviction

“Sollars pledged to represent the best interests of Taylor’s citizens, but instead, he chose to serve his own financial interests,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “His sentence reflects our office’s commitment to hold corrupt public officials accountable.”

FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Gibson underscored the importance of integrity in public office, saying, “This betrayal of trust is a stark reminder that accountability and transparency are essential in government. Today’s sentence reflects the efforts of our task force to ensure justice is served.”

Case Investigation and Sentencing

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Detroit Area Corruption Task Force, working in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Carlson and Robert Moran led the prosecution.

This sentence brings closure to a prolonged investigation into Sollars’ administration, reinforcing the importance of accountability in public office and warning against abuse of power for personal gain.

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