James Henley, owner of Core Consulting and Professional Services, was indicted on January 31 for allegedly paying kickbacks to an unnamed Detroit Public Library official, according to the FBI.
Henley allegedly paid at least $600,000 in bribes for the unnamed officials’ help in winning a $1.5 million contract to upgrade the library’s computer systems. If the charges are proven at trial, Henley would have paid more than a third of the total cost of the contract in bribes alone, and would face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to the indictment, the official helped Henley prepare the proposal which he then approved.
The indictment comes after the FBI raided the library on November 20, as well as the home of Tim Cromer, the library’s chief administrative officer. Cromer was suspended with pay two days later, according to ABC News. He has not been charged.
According to the Detroit News, The library commission released a statement saying officials will “fully cooperate” and have launched an internal investigation. “The text of the indictment of James Henley today clearly alleges that the Library community was a victim of a criminal conspiracy,” the statement read.
The commission is having its own problems. According to the Huffington Post, it is once again wrangling with Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts over who has the authority to appoint library commissioners, himself or the Detroit school board.
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“‘The text of the indictment of James Henley today clearly alleges that the Library community was a victim of a criminal conspiracy,’ the statement read.”
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