Tuesday, January 29 2013 5:34 PM EST2013-01-29 22:34:38 GMT
Former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Diane Hathaway entered the federal courthouse innocently enough, but left a convicted felon. She took a plea to bank fraud.
Former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Diane Hathaway entered the federal courthouse innocently enough, but left a convicted felon. She took a plea to bank fraud.
Friday, November 30 2012 1:31 PM EST2012-11-30 18:31:24 GMT
A Michigan Supreme Court justice accused of bank fraud is denying any wrongdoing in her first formal response to a lawsuit that seeks to seize her Florida home.
A Michigan Supreme Court justice accused of bank fraud is denying any wrongdoing in her first formal response to a lawsuit that seeks to seize her Florida home.
Friday, November 23 2012 10:03 AM EST2012-11-23 15:03:58 GMT
The Michigan Supreme Court, which guards its ethical reputation with great fervor, has a problem: Justice Diane M. Hathaway is described in a complaint from the U.S. Attorney as a money launderer and maybe more.
The Michigan Supreme Court, which guards its ethical reputation with great fervor, has a problem: Justice Diane M. Hathaway is described in a complaint from the U.S. Attorney as a money launderer and maybe more.
Wednesday, October 31 2012 8:21 PM EDT2012-11-01 00:21:19 GMT
Diane Hathaway is the target of a federal grand jury. The Michigan Supreme Court justice is house rich, but did her property dealings put her on the wrong side of the law?
She's a real estate agent, who's also one of the state's top judges, and now she's the target of a federal grand jury. Michigan Supreme Court Justice Diane Hathaway is house rich, but did her property dealings put her on the wrong side of the law?
By Charlie LeDuff Fox 2 News
DETROIT (WJBK) -- Justice Diane Hathaway packed her bags and retired from the Michigan Supreme Court on Monday just half way through her term. But that won't be her last appearance in court as she's been charged by the U.S. Attorney with bank fraud -- hiding other homes in order to get a short sale on her Grosse Pointe Park home.
Last November, I reported on a tale of four houses. Let's begin with the one on Lakeview where she lived with her husband, a successful slip and fall lawyer. They said they couldn't afford the $1.5 million mortgage and had to move out, so the bank allowed them to sell the place for about half of what they owed on it. That's called a short sale.
Before she was approved for the short sale, Hathaway gave away one of her homes to her stepdaughter -- a swanky pad in Florida with a boat dock. She gave another house to her stepson. It's just a stone's throw from the short sale house.
Another stepdaughter bought a house in Grosse Pointe Park for $200,000 just months before the short sale, and just a few months after the short sale, the stepdaughter signed it over to the judge, just signed it over to her. Then the other stepdaughter after the short sale went through signed the Florida house back over to the judge, just signed it back over to her.
Andy Arena, director of the Detroit Crime Commission, said it appears that the ex-justice may have already cut a deal with prosecutors, which may include prison time.
"She's going to do some jail time," he said. "I think they're going to look at this, the environment that we're living in right now in Southeast Michigan, I think the hammer's going to fall."
We reached out to Hathaway's criminal lawyer and even stopped by her new Grosse Pointe Park home. We got an answer from neither of them.
In any event, the former judge will have to tell it to the federal judge and that could come as early as this week. In the meantime, Governor Snyder is mulling a decision on who to replace her with.
"We do merit process in terms of really looking at people that are interested, looking at their backgrounds and going through that. So I want to be thoughtful about that. So it could take several weeks," the governor said.
Friday, May 17 2013 5:25 PM EDT2013-05-17 21:25:50 GMT
Following Minister Louis Farrakhan's message on Friday, Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff hit the streets to scrounge around for some available investment properties, and guess what he found?
Following Minister Louis Farrakhan's message on Friday, Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff hit the streets to scrounge around for some available investment properties, and guess what he found?
Thursday, May 16 2013 7:45 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:45:45 GMT
Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff attended a Detroit City Council meeting. On the agenda, some questions about a developer who is being allowed to take his time paying back a $19-million dollar loan.
On Thursday, Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff attended a Detroit City Council meeting. On the meeting agenda, some questions about a developer with connections to city hall who received a letter that told him he was allowed to take his time paying back a $19-million dollar loan.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 11:16 PM EDT2013-05-16 03:16:04 GMT
Dave Bing might run for Wayne County executive, but a condition is the officer holder must be a county resident. Charlie LeDuff decides to help his old buddy out with a few options on where he can live.
Dave Bing might run for Wayne County executive, but a condition is the officer holder must be a county resident. Charlie LeDuff decides to help his old buddy out with a few options on where he can live.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:06 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:06:18 GMT
It has been six weeks since two Detroit police officers were wounded and a suspect killed during a shootout. Now some questions have arisen and they involve Detroit EMS. Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff reports.
It has been six weeks since two Detroit police officers were wounded and a suspect killed during a shootout. Now some questions have arisen and they involve Detroit EMS. Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff reports.
Wednesday, May 8 2013 6:25 PM EDT2013-05-08 22:25:04 GMT
FOX 2 has confirmed that 101-WRIF Radio morning show hosts "Drew and Mike" will be replaced by Dave and Chuck of the Freak, the former 89X duo. The last 'Drew and Mike" broadcast is scheduled for May
The last WRIF 'Drew and Mike' show will be May 17 after the duo's contract was not renewed. Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff gets an exclusive interview in the parking lot of WRIF studios.
Charlie LeDuff: Off The ChainCharlie LeDuff: Off The ChainMore>>
Friday, May 3 2013 6:10 PM EDT2013-05-03 22:10:10 GMT
LeDuff: Let me offer a short list of things acting Bob Mayor Warfield can accomplish in his few remaining days in office. Things that could cement his legacy as one of Detroit's greats.
LeDuff: Let me offer a short list of things acting Bob Mayor Warfield can accomplish in his few remaining days in office. Things that could cement his legacy as one of Detroit's greats.
Sunday, April 21 2013 9:33 AM EDT2013-04-21 13:33:35 GMT
Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings has been equally breathless and embarrassing. Spot reports from media outlets who once prided themselves on accuracy and reliability have been little better than Twitter feeds.
Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings has been equally breathless and embarrassing. Spot reports from media outlets who once prided themselves on accuracy and reliability have been little better than Twitter feeds.
Monday, April 15 2013 7:21 AM EDT2013-04-15 11:21:31 GMT
I went to the dentist Friday morning and got my tooth drilled. My head was numb from the Novocain. I needed a place to hide where nobody would notice. I found it: Detroit city hall!
I went to the dentist Friday morning and got my tooth drilled. My head was numb from the Novocain. I needed a place to hide where nobody would notice. I found it: Detroit city hall!
Friday, April 5 2013 8:43 PM EDT2013-04-06 00:43:42 GMT
Unknown to the citizens, the police officers and even the emergency manager himself, Interim Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan was quietly conferred full chieftain status.
Unknown to the citizens, the police officers and even the emergency manager himself, Interim Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan -- as he has been called for the past five months since Chief Ralph Godbee was bounced from office -- was quietly conferred full chieftain status.
Monday, April 1 2013 9:07 AM EDT2013-04-01 13:07:47 GMT
Emmett Moten owns the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit. He owes $170,000 in back property taxes. He has until Monday at 5 p.m. to pay a portion of the back taxes or face foreclosure.
Emmett Moten owns the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit. He owes $170,000 in back property taxes. He has until Monday at 5 p.m. to pay a portion of the back taxes or face foreclosure.
Monday, March 25 2013 9:52 AM EDT2013-03-25 13:52:46 GMT
Imagine Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic summoning his pursers to the wheelhouse after his ill-fated ship struck the iceberg. "Quickly gentlemen!" he shouts. "Rearrange the deck chairs. Perhaps no one will notice!"
Imagine Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic summoning his pursers to the wheelhouse after his ill-fated ship struck the iceberg. "Quickly gentlemen!" he shouts. "Rearrange the deck chairs. Perhaps no one will notice!"
Monday, March 18 2013 10:12 AM EDT2013-03-18 14:12:24 GMT
Many people are concerned about Belle Isle's future. The EFM is promising not to make any hasty decisions and to review the numbers first, but that could be a problem. There is no Belle Isle budget.
Now that Detroit has an emergency financial manager, a lot of people are concerned about the future of Belle Isle. Kevyn Orr is promising not to make any hasty decisions and to look over the numbers first, but that could be a problem. There is no Belle Isle budget.
Tuesday, March 12 2013 2:19 PM EDT2013-03-12 18:19:44 GMT
LeDuff: I don't know if an emergency manager can work in the city of Detroit. If anyone says different, they are lying. But I have to agree with one Detroiter's view, "Anything's better than what we've got right now."
LeDuff: I don't know if an emergency manager can work in the city of Detroit. If anyone says different, they are lying. But I have to agree with one Detroiter's view, "Anything's better than what we've got right now."
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