Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield denied allegations reported by Charlie LeDuff and the Michigan Enjoyer that thousands of dollars in cash payments she received from a former romantic partner were "illegal kickbacks."
The Michigan Enjoyer posted a story Aug. 27 with allegations from Marvin Walker, who has appeared in intimate photos with Sheffield posted to social media. The story said Walker said he was a "bag man" for Sheffield while she was a city council member, "acting as the courier who collected illegal kickbacks on her behalf and deposited them in her mailbox." An accompanying video showed screenshots of photos a man holding stacks of cash, and receiving "thank you" messages in response.
In a statement issued late Aug. 26, Sheffield said that
since her campaign for mayor last year, "private photographs and communications have been used to bully, harass, and intimidate me for clear political reasons."
A spokesman acknowledged that she had a relationship with Walker that ended "several years ago." Sheffield married Ricky Jackson Jr. in December, shortly before taking office.
"I have largely remained silent, but I must address these issues due to Mr. Walker fabricating lies in an apparent attempt to protect himself from criminal and legal issues. No city funds were ever provided to Mr. Walker nor has he received any city contract. Let me also make it clear that I have never received a kickback of any kind.
"During the course of our relationship, I personally loaned him tens of thousands of dollars. Any funds he provided me were to repay loans and other money he agreed to pay back. Any funds he provided me was unrelated to any city business but the repayment of money I personally loaned him during the course of our relationship. It was entirely personal."
Walker declined to provide comment by phone Aug. 27. In a text message to the Free Press, he wrote "I never said no one gave me a kickback and that I gave it to her, that was not the conversation."
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison on July 11 asked Walker − a Detroit transitional housing facility operator with a criminal record that includes identity theft and forgery − to stop the dissemination of intimate photos showing him with the now-mayor.
And on Aug. 5, Bettison asked an activist who shared the photos to his Facebook page, Jahdante Smith, to remove them. Two weeks later, the department seized his Smith's cell phone, saying it was in relation to another case.
Sheffield has said she had no involvement in and was unaware of Bettison's actions.
Bettison said he was investigating a human trafficking complaint at one of Walker's facilities when he made the ask of him, but did not find evidence of human trafficking at the site.
In her statement, Sheffield added, "The integrity of my office and my integrity as a woman is something I will never compromise. Despite this distraction, I will remain focus on my work and serving the citizens of Detroit."
Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter at the Free Press focused on government and police accountability in Detroit. Contact her at vikonomova@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Mayor Sheffield denies allegations ex's cash payments were kickbacks
