The legal avenues for former Detroit Riverfront Conservancy CFO William Smith to delay his prison term have been exhausted. As reported by The Detroit News, U.S. District Judge Susan DeClercq has ordered Smith to begin serving his 19-year sentence for embezzling $44 million today, denying his request to extend his self-surrender date for medical reasons.
Earlier, Smith had been granted a 60-day extension to receive medical treatment. However, DeClercq's decision came after Smith's vague suggestion that "the additional treatment he seeks 'might possibly be available'" in the Bureau of Prisons, as per the government's confirmation. This left Judge DeClercq unpersuaded to postpone his imprisonment any further, as reported by Deadline Detroit.
The embezzlement scandal uncovered that Smith had misappropriated funds meant for the revitalization of Detroit's riverfront to support a luxurious lifestyle for himself and others. His extravagant spending included designer clothing, NBA tickets, and travels, amounting to substantial credit card bills, which he paid using the conservancy's money. Details of his fraudulent activities were outlined by Audacy.
The search for Smith's assets, which are undergoing liquidation, has recovered more than $649,000 in various possessions, including retirement accounts, homes, and luxury goods. Although saddled with costly mortgages, the expected recoupment for the conservancy is estimated between $2 million to $3 million against the staggering $48 million he has been ordered to repay. In a statement obtained by The Detroit News, Matthew Schneider, attorney for the conservancy, said, "He stole from our great community and one of our civic treasures, the Detroit riverfront, and now he will be held accountable."
Despite attempts to mitigate the narrative with expressions of remorse, such as his statement given in a pre-sentencing report that was revealed by Deadline Detroit, where Smith said, "I am ashamed of what I’ve done to the city and the project that I love. This behavior is something I will never repeat. My intentions are to continue working to restore the trust and respect of the community that I let down," the narrative remains unchanged. Smith is to serve his sentence starting immediately, marking the end of this chapter for the administration of justice in the case of one of Detroit's most notorious financial scandals.
