DETROIT — A spokesperson for Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said the FBI has launched an investigation into the $200,000 severance payment former Wayne County chief  economic development  officer, Turkia Awada Mullin received when she voluntarily left the position for a new one as CEO of Detroit Metropolitian Airport making $250,000 annually.  

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and Assistant County Executive Alan Helmkamp at a press conference Oct. 14 announcing the suspensions and termination of county officials involved in the controversial severence payment.

On Wednesday FBI agents visited the Wayne County building searching the human resources, technology departments, and corporation counsel. The agency also issued subpoenas for details on information Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano never shared. 

The FBI’s investigation comes after State Rep. John Olumba claimed he was harassed by state and county officials for requesting to probe Mullin’s severance deal. Ficano welcomed the FBI’s investigation saying his administration is prepared to cooperate with full transparency. 

At a press conference, Oct. 14 Ficano announced the termination of former county personnel director Tim Taylor, and 30 day suspensions without pay for Deputy County Executive Azzam Elder and Director of Corporation Counsel Mariann Talon for their involvement in the severance payment.

“Each of these actions involved serious mistakes by people I rely on. I am holding those who made error in judgment accountable for their actions. Mistakes have consequences. When those mistakes involve the expenditure of public funds, the consequences need to reflect the seriousness of the mistakes that have been made,” Ficano said.  

The secretary who also voluntarily resigned to work with Mullin at her new post received a severance payment of more than $15,000. Both agreed to return the severance payments.    

Initially, Ficano defended Mullin’s severance payment, then later launched an investigation on it. “Our initial findings of our internal review have been completed, and I am satisfied that we have discovered where protocol was not followed. Moving forward we will improve our policies and procedures,” Ficano said. 

 Ficano accepted full responsibility for the mistake, and said procedures have been put in place to assure a similar incident never occurs. 

Ficano didn’t discuss information on the roles the three county officials played in the controversy, but said Elder and Talon have proven to be highly capable of performing their duties, and provided great services to the county. Ficano said he expects them to maintain the same high quality of service they have shown over the years when they return.

 “I know from my discussions with each of them that they profoundly regret the mistakes they made in handling of these matters. But they understand, as I understand that regret is not enough-that there must be consequences,” Ficano said.