Basic HTML Version
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
4
August 9, 2012
I
NKSTER
- W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
Former Chief Judge Sylvia
James will remain off the bench at
the 22nd District Court in Inkster
until her current 6-year term
expires Dec. 31 by order of the
MichiganSupremeCourt.
The justices issued their deci-
sion regarding James' punishment
last Tuesday after hearing argu-
ments from attorneys representing
the Michigan Judicial Tenure
Commission and lawyers defend-
ing James nearly three weeks ago.
The tenure commission attorneys
had requested that James be
removed from the bench for the
remainder of this term, barred
from returning to any judicial term
for another six years and ordered
to pay more than $80,000 in restitu-
tion and costs.
James' had been found guilty of
misappropriation of funds from the
Court Community Service Account,
knowingly hiring an unqualified
magistrate at the court andwillfully
violating the court anti-nepotism
policy by hiring her niece to work
at the court. She was also criticized
by the justices for instituting and
enforcing an improper business-
attire policy at the court, which,
they said, effectively may have
denied some people access to jus-
tice. They most severe criticism
came from justices for James
‘“numerous misrepresentations of
fact under oath during the investi-
gation and hearing on this matter.”
James has never been charged
withany criminal wrongdoing.
Hearings on the charges,
brought after an investigation by
the Michigan Judicial Tenure
Commission and an audit of the
court financial records, took place
before a special master appointed
to hear evidence and testimony.
James has been on paid adminis-
trative leave from the $138,272 per
year job since last April. The
judges' ruling is effective immedi-
ately and James will no longer be
paidby the state or the city.
The justices agreed to the
tenure commission request for
removal from the bench for the
remainder of this term for James
and the restitution. They did not
bar her from serving again, if elect-
ed.
The judges' ruling is effective
immediately and James will
no longer be paid by the state or the city.
”
Supreme court removes judge until next year
Restaurant owner faces
deportation after FBI raid
Tomo Duhanaj, the owner of Bray's
Hamburger's in Westland, remains in feder-
al custody following an FBI raid on the Ford
Road restaurant July 25.
Duhanaj, 42, is charged with lying to fed-
eral agents in the course of an investigation
into loan sharking, according to reports of
the arrest.
An investigation by the FBI into allega-
tions of loan sharking involving local
Albanian Americans has been ongoing for
several months, according to records.
Evidence includes a cooperating witness
and surveillance. Duhanaj's Troy home and
other business, Capital Coney Island in
Ferndale, were also raided by the FBI on
July 25.
He is considered an illegal alien and
faces deportation, according to authorities.
He allegedly entered the U.S. from
Yugoslavia in 2002 and requested political
asylum, but was denied, reports said, and he
has remained in the country illegally since
then.
Authorities claim that his loan sharking
operation targeted immigrant Albanians,
that he charged interest rates up to 45 per-
cent and threatened violence in order to col-
lect on the debts.
The investigation was allegedly prompt-
ed following a traffic stop of Duhanaj inMay
by Troy police. He was arrested for driving
on a suspended license and police took a list
of outstanding payments from his vehicle,
along with two checks described as suspi-
cious, according to police reports.
The federal complaint alleges that a
forensic accountant reviewed the list and
determined that many of the loans detailed
on the sheet appear to be in excess of 45 per-
cent interest per annum.
Duhanaj donated $1,000 to the campaign
of John Goci, a member of the Wayne-
Westland Board of Education who was cam-
paigning for a Congressional seat. Goci
came to the States fromAlbania as a child.
Goci reportedly also accepted a loan of
$30,000 fromDuhanaj. Goci said that he took
the loan when his business was faltering but
that the loan came from Oakland County
businessman Randy Dzierzowski and that
Duhanaj was themiddleman in securing the
funds. Goci said he had heard that Duhanaj
was able to find loan funding, according to
reports.
Goci has stated that he had no knowledge
of Duhanaj's immigration status. Duhanaj
also reportedly contributed to the cam-
paigns of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters and to U.S.
Rep. Sander Levin.
Funny business
Visitors of all ages at the Wayne Community Center got a treat recently when Carlee
and Charlie from the Kelly Miller Circus came to the facility. The clowns, featured per-
formers at the circus, will be in town this weekend to delight audiences during two
shows at Attwood Park. During their visit last week they toured the town, including
Wayne City Hall and various community sights, all to promote the event this weekend
which will include wild animal acts, acrobats, trapeze artists and many others at the 2
and 5:30 p.m. shows at the park. The circus is being sponsored by The City of Wayne
and admission is $6 for children 12 and younger and $10 for adults. Tickets are avail-
able at the Wayne Community Center, the Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Wayne
City Hall, The Avenue Bar and Grill and Tim Horton's of Wayne. For more information,
call (734) 721-7400.
Photos by Sean Rhaesa