A long-running FBI probe into corrupt contracts in Macomb County involving trash-hauler Rizzo Environmental Services continues to spread.


Brett Harris

A New Haven village trustee and a former trustee from that community are charged with bribery, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit announces. Five people are accused so far.

Christopher Craigmiles, 43, of Lenox Township, a former Detroit transit cop, is charged with demanding and accepting money in exchange for official acts as a New Haven trustee -- a post he still holds.

Ex-Trustee Brett Harris, 57, of New Haven, is charged with accepting multiple bribes in exchange for a promise to support a future garbage pickup contract. Harris lost a re-election try in November. 

"Today's announcement of public corruption charges, in the Village of New Haven, demonstrates the FBI's unyielding commitment to aggressively investigate public servants, past or present, who accept bribes in exchange for official actions," David P. Gelios, head of the Detroit FBI, said in a statement. 

To build its case in the wide-sweeping investigation in Macomb County, the FBI has used telephone wiretaps, consensual audio and video recordings by cooperative individuals, undercover operations, physical surveillance, telephone tracking warrants and subpoenas of financial records and other documents.


Trustee Christopher Craigmiles

Authorities allege that Harris conspired with Craigmiles and former Clinton Township Trustee Dean Reynolds to take bribes in exchange for accepting municipal contracts with Rizzo.

Reynolds, who is also charged in the probe, unwittingly introduced Harris to an undercover FBI agent who was posing as a consultant for the company.

Reynolds, who lost his race for township supervisor, told the undercover agent that Harris would be willing to take bribes in exchange for his vote on a future trash-hauling contract, authorities said. Previously, authorities alleged,  Reynolds accepted $17,000 in cash bribes from the undercover agent and $50,000 to $70,000 from a Rizzo executive.

After being introduced to the undercover agent by Reynolds, Harris accepted $11,000 for his vote on a future contract between New Haven and the company, authorities say.

Last August, Harris introduced the FBI agent to Craigmiles. Harris identified Craigmiles as being another New Haven Trustee who's take bribes.

Authorities charge that Craigmiles accepted $5,000 from the agent and agreed to support a future contract in exchange for money.