Former Bentley school board member, Burton man face felony

charges following Attorney General, Michigan Gaming Control

Board investigation
Contact: Mary Kay Bean 313-456-1344
Detroit A former Bentley School board member faces larceny and
embezzlement charges and a Burton, Mich., man faces larceny charges
following a Michigan Attorney Generals office and Michigan Gaming Control
Board investigation of charity poker events at Glorias Poker Palace in Burton
between 2010 and 2013.
Former school board member Michael McCollum, 51, of Burton, and Todd West,
55, of Burton, pled not guilty in 67th District Court to multiple charges after a twoyear investigation into the alleged gaming crimes:

McCollum was arraigned Jan. 12 in the Grand Blanc court on multiple

felony charges of larceny by false pretenses, one felony embezzlement
charge and 19 misdemeanor violations of the Bingo Act, which authorizes
charitable gaming in Michigan. McCollum was released on a $230,000
personal bond.
West was arraigned Jan. 7 in the Burton court on three felony larceny by
false pretenses counts and 10 counts of aiding and abetting managing a
millionaire party without being a member of the qualified organization in
violation of the Bingo Act. West was released on a $24,000 personal bond.

Our investigation revealed a web of deception that allowed several people to

feed off charity events, leaving the leftovers for the charities, said Richard Kalm,
executive director, MGCB.

McCollum and West allegedly took money from the charities for personal gain or
other illegal purposes, shortchanging charities by leading them to believe some
of the diverted money was helping youth in the community, he said. Under
Michigan law, the charity is required to keep its own records and manage its own
events. The charities were not present for many events handled by McCollum
and West, who allegedly took over events, falsified records and illegally skimmed
profits.
McCollum took proceeds from charitable events affiliated with two Catholic
churches, Blessed Sacrament and St. Francis Xavier, between 2010 and 2013.
He and other nonmembers operated the events instead of the charities
themselves as required by law. The MGCB suspended charitable gaming at
Glorias Poker Palace in 2013 because of multiple gambling violations.
McCollum spent charitable gaming proceeds on a time-share property in Mexico
and vacations. The three larceny by false pretenses charges carry penalties of
five to 15 years in prison and fines ranging from $10,000 to $15,000. The
embezzlement count is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and/or a $25,000
fine or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater. The 19 state
charitable gaming law violations are misdemeanors punishable by up to six
months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
West, who arranged and operated charity gaming events, is accused of
participating in the scam and allegedly stealing money from Blessed Sacrament
Church, the churchs mens club and rosary altar society, Knights of Columbus
Council 11532 and Kearsley Hockey Boosters while working on events held at
Glorias Poker Palace. The three larceny by false pretenses charges carry
penalties of up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. The 10
misdemeanor charitable gaming law violations carry penalties of up to six months
in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
McCollum and West allegedly skimmed profits from the charities in more than
130 licensed events. The charities were instructed to write checks to The
Renegades travel baseball club and MT Athletics. It is believed McCollum
converted more than $93,000 to his own use. West allegedly converted more
than $15,000 to his own use.
The Catholic charities and the hockey boosters were victims in this case, Kalm
said.

Glorias and two other Flint area poker rooms Pocket Aces and Luckys are
among several Michigan locations where charitable gaming was discontinued
following MGCB investigations. Since 2014, five people associated with Pocket
Aces and Luckys have pled guilty to gaming crimes following investigations by
the Michigan Attorney Generals office and the MGCB. Investigations into
charitable gaming activities are continuing.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed
innocent until proven guilty.
"The Michigan Gaming Control Board shall ensure the conduct of fair and honest
gaming to protect the interests of the citizens of the State of Michigan."