Former state worker sentenced for embezzling more than $855,000 from environment department
LANSING — A former state employee has been sentenced to one year in jail and three years of probation for embezzling more than $800,000 from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
While working with EGLE as an environmental quality specialist, Joseph Pettit helped release bond money back to companies that had drilled in or operated a mineral well in Michigan and facilitated transfers of money back to its original owner, according to the Attorney General's Office.
He also created fake vendors and diverted the bond money into his personal bank accounts, according to the AG's office.
From 2018 to 2020, Pettit is accused of doing this 18 times, totaling $855,690, according to court records. In all, prosecutors believe he embezzled more than $1 million but some of it has passed the statute of limitations for prosecution.
Read more: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2021/12/21/former-state-worker-michigan-embezzlement-egle-mineral-well/8607008002/