Chesterfield Twp. supervisor arrested, charged with demanding and taking bribes

(WJBK) - The FBI has arrested the elected supervisor of Chesterfield Township, Michael Locklove, for allegedly demanding and taking bribes in exchange for his official acts in connection with a municipal contract, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said in a news release.

Lovelock, 57, of New Baltimore, was charged with demanding and accepting money in exchange for official acts as the Chesterfield Supervisor. Lovelock's arrest is part of an ongoing and longrunning investigation into systemic corruption in multiple municipalities in southeast Michigan, primarily Macomb County.

Locklove is the third person to be allegedly involved in the ongoing corruption in Macomb County. 

Last month, a Macomb Township trustee was arrested and charged for also demanding and taking bribes for votes. Later that same day, the head of Rizzo Environmental Services stepped down amid a federal investigation into public officials in Macomb County. A Clinton Township trustee has also been charged. 

A complaint charges that Lovelock has accepted multiple bribes from the representative of a company that had a significant contract with Chesterfield Township since 2010. In total, Lovelock allegedly accepted over $30,000 in cash from the company's representative. In addition, Lovelock allegedly accepted two other bribe payments totaling $4,000 in cash from an undercover agent of the FBI and an individual cooperating in the investigation, with the payments being video recorded.

A press release states that, in exchange for all of the cash that Lovelock demanded and accepted during the course of the bribery conspiracy, Lovelock agreed to use his official position as Chesterfield Supervisor to: (1) secure an extension of the contract with the township for the company, (2) put past due accounts of the company on the Chesterfield tax rolls so as to assist the company in getting paid by township residents, (3) obtain payment from Macomb County for the company for its work on flood damage that occurred in August 2014; and (4) provide a favorable reference for the company for other municipalities and so that Lovelock would not speak negatively about the company.

Upon conviction for a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666, federal program bribery, Lovelock faces a maximum of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.