Forgery Charges Brought Against Ex- Department of State Employee

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Attorney General Bill Schuette have announced criminal charges against a former Michigan Department of State employee after an investigation revealed fraudulent titles being issued from a Dearborn branch office. The charges result from an investigation by the Department of Attorney General following a Secretary of State's Internal Security Division referral and were brought by the Attorney General's Public Integrity Unit.

Johnson said "our department is committed to ensuring that all of our transactions are handled with utmost integrity. We take any ethical breach extremely seriously and in all instances will notify the proper authorities and pursue charges when warranted."

Schuette added "the taxpayers expect public workers to exercise their duties with respect and integrity. Corruption will be tackled and eliminated whenever it is found."

Former Dept. of State employee Shameshra Hall, 24, of Warren, is charged for her alleged role in the issuance of seven fraudulent Michigan motor vehicle title applications between December 2011 and January 2012. Hall's job responsibilities included verifying the identities of individuals requesting motor vehicle titles, in order to ensure the requestor's identity properly matched the identity listed on the title.

Hall was charged with 17 counts in Dearborn's 19th District Court and faces up to 20 years in prison. She had been arrested by Special Agents from the Dept. of the Attorney General. Her bond was set at $50,000 and will next appear in court on May 25, 2012. Her employment with the Department of State had been terminated at the end of February.