Former Mich. state employee convicted of embezzlement for personal use of state vehicles

A Wayne County jury convicted a former state employee Thursday of embezzlement totaling more than $47,000, stemming from the worker's personal use of state vehicles over about three-and-a-half years, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Friday.

Rufus Chappell of Farmington Hills could face up to 10 years in prison following his conviction on one felony count of embezzling between $20,000 to $50,000.

Chappell, now 64, worked as an unemployment examiner for the formerly named Talent Investment Agency — now known as the Unemployment Insurance Agency — and had authorization to use state vehicles to attend hearings on unemployment benefit appeals, Nessel's office said in a news release. But he also used the cars for personal reasons, including on holidays and weekends. His unauthorized use of the vehicles and mileage fees between August 2015 and January 2019 came to $47,214.85, the attorney general's office said.

“This verdict sends a clear message that stealing from the State, and thereby the taxpayers, will not be tolerated,” Nessel said in a statement.

Chappell's attorney, Arni Chambers, decried the conviction in an email to The Detroit News, saying Chappell worked "diligently" for the state for 40 years.

"While he exercised his constitutional right to remain silent during trial, he maintains his innocence of any intent to defraud," Chambers said.

The state discovered Chappell's actions after learning Chappell’s driver’s license had been suspended, the release said, which did not provide more details.

Sentencing for Chappell is scheduled for May 17 at 8:30 a.m. before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Mariam Bazzi.

jcardi@detroitnews.com