Browsing Tag
Billy Cole
On Sept, 11, 2024 and Sept. 13, 2024 two Freedom of Information Act requests for 2023 financial records were submitted to Billy Cole, President/CEO of the local, county-funded non-profit Supreme Felons, Inc. Cole answered both FOIA!-->!-->!-->…
Sheriff’s Data Show Since $1.2M Grant to Supreme Felons, Inc for “Violence Interruption,” Crime is Up in the Group’s “Neighborhood Watch”…
by P.D. Lesko
Billy Cole, President and CEO of non-profit Supreme Felons, Inc. doesn't want to talk about the rising crimes rates in the areas where his neighborhood watch teams patrol. He doesn't want to talk about the fact that in!-->!-->!-->…
A2Indy Files FOIA Suit Against Supreme Felons, Inc. to Force Release of Public Records
by P.D. Lesko
On Nov. 21, 2024 the Ann Arbor Independent filed suit in the Washtenaw County 22nd Circuit Court against Supreme Felons, Inc. In Sept. of 2024, the newspaper submitted two Freedom of Information Act requests to Supreme!-->!-->!-->…
How Did Supreme Felons, Inc. Spend $527K in Public Funding? A2Indy’s FOIAs Trigger Threat
by P.D. Lesko
Supreme Felons is not a public body and was therefore not subject to the FOIA pursuant to OAG, 1989-1990, No 6563, p 27 (January 26, 1989).--Billy Cole, President, Supreme Felons, Inc., in an email to The Ann Arbor!-->!-->!-->…
Non-Profit Controlled By Felons and Funded By County Again Neglects to File Federal Tax Return
Updated 9/13/24 with a comment from Billy Cole and County Administrator Greg Dill.
by P.D. Lesko
Supreme Felons, Inc. is led by felon Billy Cole, a murderer. Bryan Foley, a bank robber, has self-identified as the "managing director"!-->!-->!-->!-->!-->…
Ann Arbor Independent Wins Investigative Reporting Award for “Supreme Felons, Inc.”
On May 15, 2023 the Society of Professional Journalists announced that The Ann Arbor Independent had won an excellence in reporting award for its investigative series about a $1.2 million grant handed over to a Washtenaw County non-profit!-->…
County Commissioners Defend $1.2M ARPA Grant to Felon Who Executed 24-Year-Old EMU Grad
by P.D. Lesko
In 1976, Billy Cole was found guilty of felony murder and armed robbery and sentenced to life + 60 years by Washtenaw County Judge Ross W. Campbell. In 1985, while in prison, he was found guilty of felonious assault,!-->!-->!-->…
District 4 County Commissioner Caroline Sanders Criticized For Defending $1.2M ARPA Grant to Murderer on Parole, and Registered Sex Offender
Editor's Note: Robert Zimmerman is an accountant and a candidate for the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners in District 4. The seat is currently held by Commissioner Caroline Sanders. In July 2022, Sanders voted in favor of awarding a!-->…
State Sen. Aric Nesbitt calls on Sue Shink to Explain Grant to Convicted Murderer, Registered Sex Offender
Sen. Aric Nesbitt, chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, today called on Democratic senate candidate Sue Shink to explain a troubling report that the Washtenaw County Commission she chairs provided taxpayer funds to a!-->…
County Commissioners Handed Registered Sex Offender, and County Employee on Parole $1.2M ARPA Grant
10/19/22: Updated with a comment from Brian Foley of Supreme Felons, Inc.
Washtenaw County earmarked a total of $8 million in federal ARPA funds to distribute grants to community groups focused on, among other issues, community violence!-->!-->!-->…