(WXYZ) — The war of words continues for Robert Carmack as he faced a judge Thursday, and now his lawyer is crying foul – even comparing the Detroit mayor to a mob boss.
“Nothing’s changed in this town. It’s almost like a mob boss is running this town,” said attorney Michael Rataj after Carmack’s arraignment.
Carmack is now charged with four felony charges.
The false pretenses and uttering and publishing charges stem from a land deal on Melville Avenue in Detroit. Carmack says that land was properly deeded by the city back in 2007. He then sold the property in 2016 for $1 million.
But city officials say Carmack committed fraud when he obtained the deed for the land – and he never should have been able to sell it.
“He did a million-dollar deal on a piece of real estate that he never had title to,” said Genesee County Assistant Prosecutor Patrick McComb.
“He intends to vigorously defend these charges which I deem as retaliatory,” Rataj told the 36th District Court magistrate during the video arraignment.
Carmack has had a very public battle with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan for years. Last month, he launched a publicity tour to embarrass the mayor, even releasing video showing Duggan driving to a home in Novi where another woman also lived.
Now Carmack’s attorney is alleging that feud is the reason for the felony case.
“There’s a theme that’s been developed in this town. And that is, if you push back or you challenge this administration, one of two things happen – you either end up charged with a crime, or you’re under criminal investigation. That’s what’s going on here,” said Rataj outside of court.
But city officials dispute that, telling us in a statement, “This case was sent to the Wayne County Prosecutor a year ago. It was referred to the Genesee County Prosecutor this spring to be handled independently. We have full confidence in the professional ability of the Genesee County Prosecutor’s office to handle this matter appropriately.”
Rataj turned over Carmack’s passport in court, and assured the magistrate that his client was not a flight risk. She granted him a $50,000 bond, 10% surety.
Carmack will return to court for a preliminary exam in January.
