Former Eric Smith associate accused of theft
Weber, who testified against Smith, accused of stealing equipment
A man who helped Eric Smith allegedly pilfer public funds is now accused of stealing heating and cooling equipment, according to a media report.
William Weber of Weber Security in Mount Clemens is accused of stealing $45,000 worth of air conditioners and heaters that was being stored at a building he leased in Fraser, according to the report on WJBK-TV (Channel 2, fox2detroit.com).
Weber was charged with four felonies in 2020 for his actions involving Smith and testified against Smith last year.
According to police, in the recent incident, Albert Yalda, a heating and cooling contractor was storing equipment in the building. Weber and alleged cohort Mark Oldenburg rented a truck and stole the equipment, the report says. The pair were caught on video, police said.
Oldenburg denied to police knowledge about the crime, the report says.
Weber’s bond was set at $5,000, and Oldenburg was freed on personal bond following arraignments in 39th District Court, the report says.
Weber testified against Smith last July in 41B District Court in Clinton Township that he received $7,000 in 2012 for installing a security system and three minor items at Smith’s Macomb Township home during his tenure as county prosecutor. Weber complied with Smith’s later request to create a fake invoice for the work. Weber took the stand after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor in exchange for the dismissal of the felonies. Weber also paid nearly $24,000 in restitution for failing to complete a county project.
Smith, who resigned in March 2020 amid the filing of criminal charges, in February was bound over to Macomb Circuit Court on 10 felonies including five embezzlement counts and a racketeering charge on allegations he illicitly spent over $100,000 from two forfeiture accounts, a drug court account and bad check restitution account.
In a separate case, Smith is expected to be sentenced to federal prison next month after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice for trying to cover up the theft of $75,000 in campaign dollars.