DETROIT, Mich. – With the backdrop of thousands of returning students at Wayne State University’s central campus, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and a consortium of state, county and local officials kicked off a targeted campaign on Sept. 7 to curb underage drinking and drunken driving.
The statewide “21 to Buy, Not Supply” college campus campaign seeks to raise awareness about the legal and far-reaching consequences of providing alcohol to minors while curbing the access to alcohol for those who are not of legal age.
“Our target audience is young adults who turn 21 and suddenly have access to increased privileges and responsibilities,” Johnson explained. “We know their younger friends may turn to them for alcohol, especially on college campuses where house parties and tailgates are such a temptation, but our message is don’t do it. There is too much at risk.”
Also speaking at the event was Inspector James Wolf, assistant district commander of the MSP Second District (southeast Michigan), Michigan Liquor Control Commission Chairman Andrew Deloney, Diane Dovico, executive director of the Royal Oak Community Coalition and David Pitawanakwat, director of Governmental Affairs for the Wayne State Student Senate.
Other coalition partners attending the event included representatives from the Alliance Coalition for Healthy Communities, Oakland County Health Division, and the Office of Highway Safety Planning. The press conference was staged at Gullen Mall, near the WSU Student Center.
In Michigan, the penalty for providing alcohol to a minor can be $1,000 in fines, up to 90 days in jail and legal fees of $5,000 or more, but broader consequences could include lost wages, forfeited scholarships and even expulsion from college.
Watch Fox TV-2 story
 LANSING, Mich. – A southeast Michigan auto dealer now faces seven felony charges for allegedly forging federal import documents after Secretary of State staff became suspicious of the documents he presented, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Michigan State Police Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue announced on Sept. 8.
Auto dealer David S. Cheslin of Sylvan Lake has been arraigned in Eaton County District Court on two counts of uttering and publishing and five counts of intent to pass false title.
Cheslin, the owner of Cheslin, Inc., 3080 Orchard Lake Road in Keego Harbor, is accused of forging more than 300 U.S. Customs and Border Protection documents and a sheriff deputy’s signature to bypass the required Customs process for importing vehicles.
Secretary of State and State Police investigators uncovered the Oakland County auto dealer’s scheme beginning in February when suspected fraudulent title applications were submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office. The documents were later confirmed to be fraudulent by Customs import specialists. State Police investigators subsequently executed search warrants in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in May. Shortly thereafter, Cheslin’s dealership license was summarily suspended by the Secretary of State’s Office.
“My office is committed to cracking down on fraudulent activity and holding dealers accountable for their illegal actions,” Johnson said. “When unscrupulous auto dealers are put out of business, consumers win. I appreciate the efforts of the State Police, federal law enforcement agencies and my office’s dedicated staff on this case.”
|
|
