Latest news with #DanaNessel
CBS News
2 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Michigan financial advisor accused of submitting false annuity applications
A Michigan financial advisor has been charged with four counts of insurance fraud for allegedly submitting "misleading" annuity applications. According to the Michigan Attorney General's office, Todd Bernstein, 67, of Birmingham, Michigan, allegedly submitted the false applications on behalf of his clients, over the age of 65, "to conceal that new annuities were being purchased with proceeds from early surrendered annuities." "Consumers must be able to trust financial professionals to act truthfully and in their best interests," said Attorney General Dana Nessel in a news release. "My department remains committed to protecting Michigan residents from illegal and predatory business practices." Bernstein's next court hearing is on Aug. 12. "Consumers should be able to rely on licensed financial professionals to help them protect their financial future," said Anita Fox, director of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. "DIFS is committed to protecting Michigan consumers by working with the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute those who abuse their customers' trust. Michiganders who suspect fraud can report it online or by calling DIFS at 877-999-6442 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m."
CBS News
10 hours ago
- CBS News
Former Western Michigan University exchange student extradited on sexual assault charges
A former Western Michigan University foreign exchange student from the Dominican Republic has been charged with sexually assaulting a fellow student in 2010. Al Allan De Los Santos Mueses, 40, was charged on July 1 and extradited from Miami, Florida, on July 11 on four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced. Mueses was a student at WMU between 2009 and 2013, according to prosecutors. Mueses is accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman in his apartment in March 2010 after meeting her at a WMU recreation center, authorities say. The victim reported the assault and underwent a forensic medical exam; however, no charges were issued at the time. The attorney general's office says the case is being prosecuted by the Kalamazoo Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), which was started in 2016 to investigate and prosecute sexual assaults connected to previously untested sexual assault evidence kits. "I remain grateful to our state's devoted SAKI units and their efforts to bring about justice for victims of sexual assaults perpetrated years ago," said Nessel. "Their commitment ensures that survivors have the opportunity to see their cases fully investigated and that perpetrators are held accountable." According to Nessel, the Kalamazoo SAKI Team is investigating more than 200 cold-case sexual assaults that happened in Kalamazoo County between 1976 and 2015. Anyone with information about the alleged assault or similar conduct by Mueses is asked to call Kalamazoo County SAKI Investigator Richard Johnson at 269-569-0515 or email. Mueses was arraigned on July 28 and given a $250,000 bond. He is due back in court on Aug. 7 for a probable cause conference. His preliminary examination is on Aug. 14.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Michigan joins over 20 states in suing USDA over access to SNAP food stamp recipient records
Michigan is among nearly two dozen states that are suing the federal government over a pending rule that seeks extensive access to the personal records of food stamp recipients. A total of 22 states have signed onto the suit, which was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "USDA's actions are unprecedented, threaten the privacy of millions of families, and ignore long-standing restrictions on the use and redisclosure of SNAP data," said the statement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, is the modern version of what was once called food stamps. The program is meant for lower-income people who complete an application and meet a series of eligibility requirements. While the SNAP program is federally funded, it has long been administered by the states, and the records of recipients are generally handled at that level. Michigan currently directs about $254 million in SNAP benefits a month through the Michigan Bridge Card network. Eligible recipients can use their individual or household allocations via the electronic benefits card toward purchasing food at most supermarkets and other participating retailers. Fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products can be purchased with SNAP benefits. Paper products and cleaning supplies are among the ineligible grocery items. In May, the USDA issued a notice that it will require states and territories to share records of SNAP benefits and allotments with the federal government. While those instructions are on hold, according to the USDA, they do ask for personally identifiable information such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers and other records about applicants and recipients. The USA is also seeking information "sufficient to calculate the total dollar value" of SNAP benefits that participants received on and after Jan. 1, 2020. "For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data. The Department is focused on appropriate and lawful participation in SNAP, and today's request is one of many steps to ensure SNAP is preserved for only those eligible," USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said in her announcement. The lawsuit said the federal government has never previously asked for such detailed records on SNAP recipients. Quality control checks normally ask for sample data, and both inspections and audits would seek a limited range of information specifically allowed by law. "SNAP applicants provide their private information on the understanding, backed by long-standing state and federal laws, that their information will not be used for unrelated purposes," Nessel's office said. "USDA's actions are unprecedented, threaten the privacy of millions of families, and ignore long-standing restrictions on the use and redisclosure of SNAP data."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nessel weighs in on grassroots effort for blocking political donations to DTE, Consumers
The Brief A grassroots group has raised $40,000 in an effort to ban political donations from DTE and Consumers. The group, Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, wants to get a proposal on the ballot by 2026. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel was asked about the efforts by Tim Skubick. FOX 2 - The group - Michiganders for Money Out of Politics - trying to prevent Consumers Energy and DTE Energy from donating money into legislative races, raised just over $40,000. But in a new twist, Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel has entered the debate When asked if she would sign the petition, as attorney general she would not just in case her department gets involved in a legal case over the ballot issue. "I'm not saying anything about this particular proposal and I'm not going to become involved in it," she said. "But theoretically, do I support that as a policy move? Then yes. I think it's a good idea." The giant utilities argue they have a right to participate in the political system. And since none of the contributions come from rate payers, they will fight this. But Nessel counters if you want lower utility rates and improved service when you need it most, this should be done. "Just take them out completely of the political gift-giving or at a minimum, make sure that people know exactly who they are donating to and how much in terms of these dark money PACs," she said. Just how many of these petition drives make it to the ballot is one thing. And if they get there it is another thing altogether, which ones will be approved by voters. The Source Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel provided an interview for this report. Solve the daily Crossword
E&E News
6 days ago
- Politics
- E&E News
Trump's Michigan coal order draws legal challenge
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and a coalition of environmental groups are calling on a federal appeals court to intervene in the Trump administration's first national order to keep an aging coal plant online, a move they argue is illegal and costly. Nessel (D) on Thursday filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit asking the court to review the Energy Department's order for Consumers Energy to continue operating its J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in southwestern Michigan. The Sierra Club, Earthjustice and seven other groups also filed a petition with the same court Thursday. The requests target an order that Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued May using emergency authorities in the Federal Power Act to force the plant to keep operating. Wright argued that the plant is needed to keep sufficient electricity on the grid. The local utility Consumers Energy planned to shut down the plant at the end of May. Advertisement 'President Trump has declared under his authority a national energy emergency. The Energy Department and Secretary Wright are ensuring Americans have access to all forms of reliable energy,' said Ben Dietderich, a spokesperson for DOE.
