Wayne County Official Indicted for Obstructing Justice and Falsifying Documents to Conceal Bribery Scheme
Zayd Allebban, Wayne County's director of enterprise application, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Detroit for obstructing justice and falsifying documents to conceal a bribery scheme by Allebban's close friend and supervisor, Tahir Kazmi, United States Attorney Barbara L McQuade announced today. McQuade was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward Hanko of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The indictment alleges that, Allebban, 33, of Dearborn, conspired with Kazmi to obstruct justice by seeking to persuade a private contractor to lie to FBI agents and provide false information to a federal grand jury investigating corruption in the Wayne County government. Allebban and Kazmi sought to conceal the fact that the contractor had given Kazmi tens of thousands of dollars in cash and trips to Hawaii, Turkey, and Florida.
Allebban is also charged with three counts of falsifying documents with the intent to obstruct the grand jury and FBI investigation. The indictment charges that as part of his crime, Allebban delivered $24,000 in cash to the private contractor to induce the contractor to tell the FBI that the contractor had never given anything to Kazmi. Allebban also created false documents to cover up bribe payments made to Kazmi. If convicted, Allebban faces a maximum of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for conspiring to obstruct justice.
In addition, Allebban faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the three counts of falsifying documents. United States Attorney McQuade said, 'Public officials who illegally enrich themselves will be detected and brought to justice. Efforts to conceal their crimes will bring additional charges and higher penalties.' FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Hanko said, 'The citizens of Wayne County deserve honest government and leaders committed to serving the needs of taxpayers. This indictment should serve as a reminder that the FBI-led Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force will remain vigorously committed to stopping corruption and bringing those who abuse public trust to justice.' Allebban is expected to appear in federal court tomorrow afternoon for arraignment on the indictment.
The case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David A Gardey and Gjon Juncaj.
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