Allegations of embezzling from an employer, then plotting to silence him in an effort to prevent him from pursuing the matter has landed three people in jail after the attempted murder of a Macomb Township businessman and gas station owner.
Dawn Huffman, who worked for businessman Eddie Jawad for more than two decades, her husband and his brother face charges in a plot that Macomb County’s prosecutor says nearly got Jawad killed outside his upscale home last month.
Huffman, office manager for Jawad’s business, who worked for Jawad Investments for more than 22 years; her husband, Rachard Huffman, who worked for the business from August 2023 until August 2025, and his brother, Jasan Martin, are all charged.
The prosecutor’s office said in a news release that Dawn Huffman handled a credit card intended to pay DTE bills for multiple Jawad Investment properties. She is accused of using the card to embezzle more than $100,000; and Rachard Huffman and Martin are accused of conspiring to silence Jawad to prevent him from pursuing the matter.
Jawad was shot days later, on Oct. 14, after he backed out of his garage and was driving down his driveway. The shooting was caught on surveillance video. Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said Jawad was grazed on his right leg and a bullet hit his left leg but did not penetrate it, and he suffered wounds from broken glass.
The prosecutor’s office said Martin entered Jawad’s property, a gated residence on 24 Mile Road near Wellington Valley Drive, and hid under a vehicle parked in the driveway. As Jawad drove, Martin came out from his hiding place and fired seven shots as Jawad drove past.
Wickersham previously said brake dust on the wheel well, smudges and bird droppings on a Ford Escape SUV believed to be used in the incident helped lead to the arrest of Martin, who was on parole in Ohio.
Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in his news release this week that conspiracy to commit murder “stands among the most evil and reprehensible of all crimes. It represents not only a willingness to take an innocent life but a deliberate and premeditated plan to do so.”
Martin, 32, of Eastpointe, was previously charged with a half-dozen offenses, but was charged with an additional offense — conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder — on Nov. 3. He is being held in the county jail on a $1 million bond.
Rachard Huffman, 39, of Sterling Heights, is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit embezzlement−agent or trustee $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. He also is being held in the county lockup on a $1 million bond.
Dawn Huffman, 44, of Sterling Heights, is charged with embezzlement of $100,000 or more and conspiracy to commit embezzlement−agent or trustee $1,000 or more but less than $20,000. She is being held in the county jail on a $500,000 bond.
If either Huffman posts bond, they have to wear a GPS tether and have no contact with the other co-defendants. Preliminary exams for the trio are set for Nov. 24 in 41A District Court in Shelby Township. Not guilty pleas were entered in all three cases.
Messages were left for Martin’s attorney, who had no comment after Martin’s arraignment on the original six charges, as well as Rachard Huffman’s attorney. Dawn Huffman is to retain counsel, but no attorney was listed for her with the district court on Nov. 5.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @challreporter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trio face charges in connection with shooting of Macomb businessman outside his home
Reporting by Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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