The former CFO convicted of stealing at least $44 million from the nonprofit Detroit Riverfront Conservancy must report to prison as scheduled on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
A federal judge late on Aug. 11 denied William Smith’s request for more time to start his 19-year sentence. Smith attorney Gerald Evelyn signaled last week that he was requesting to extend his client’s self-surrender date in a court motion that referenced private medical information. The motion itself was sealed by the court.
In her order, U.S. District Judge Susan DeClercq said Smith asked “for a reasonable period of time to permit him to receive and recover from medical treatment.” The request was made on top of a previously issued 60-day extension, she said.
“He received such medical treatment,” DeClercq said in her denial. “He has not shown any basis to extend his report date a second time.”
Evelyn said in his request that Smith seeks additional medical treatment that “might possibly be available” in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the government confirmed that it is, DeClercq said.
Smith’s initial prison-report date of June 12 was extended based on an agreement between his attorneys and the government, DeClercq said.
The former CFO pleaded guilty in November to orchestrating an elaborate scheme that spanned more than a decade and, according to conservancy officials, nearly took the once well-heeled nonprofit off a fiscal cliff.
Led by some of the region’s top business, philanthropic and government leaders, the organization is responsible for redeveloping the city’s waterfront and adjacent areas with charitable and public contributions.
In a statement issued Aug. 12, Matthew Schneider, the former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan hired to represent the conservancy in the wake of Smith’s theft, said: “William Smith is where he belongs — in prison. He stole from a civic treasure belonging to all Michiganders, the revitalized Detroit riverfront, and now he will be held accountable.”
Evelyn has taken steps to appeal Smith’s conviction, which includes a $48 million restitution order. It’s not yet clear what portion of the sentence he plans to appeal and on what grounds.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter at the Free Press covering Detroit. Contact her at vikonomova@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Riverfront Conservancy CFO must go directly to jail, judge says to extension ask
Reporting by Violet Ikonomova, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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