A new investigation into the Flint water crisis led to charges against nine people, including former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and key members of his administration, who are accused of various crimes in a disastrous plan that contaminated the community with lead and contributed to a fatal outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, authorities said on January 14.
Nearly seven years after the doomed decision to use the Flint River as the city’s primary water source, pipes at nearly 10,000 Flint homes have been replaced and water quality has greatly improved. But prosecutors said it is not too late to pursue people responsible for one of the worst human-made environmental disasters in U.S. history.
It’s the second time that six of the nine defendants have faced charges; their previous cases were dropped in 2019 when a new prosecution team took over the investigation into the affair.
Former Governor Snyder is the biggest new name in the group, though his alleged crimes are not as serious as the others: two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect of duty.
Those charged include:
Richard Snyder – Former Governor of Michigan
- Two counts of willful neglect of duty – each a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
Nicolas Lyon – Former Director, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Nine counts of involuntary manslaughter – each a 15-year felony and/or $7,500 fine
- One count of willful neglect of duty – a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
Eden Wells – Former Chief Medical Executive, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Nine counts of involuntary manslaughter – each a 15-year felony and/or $7,500 fine
- Two counts of misconduct in office – each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
- One count of willful neglect of duty – a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
Gerald Ambrose – Former City of Flint EM
- Four counts of misconduct in office – each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
Darnell Earley – Former City of Flint EM
- Three counts of misconduct in office – each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
Richard Baird – Former Transformation Manager and Senior Adviser, Executive Office of Gov. Snyder
- One count of perjury – a 15-year felony
- One count of official misconduct in office – a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
- One count of obstruction of justice – a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
- One count of extortion – a 20-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
Jarrod Agen – Former Director of Communications and Former Chief of Staff, Executive Office of Gov. Rick Snyder
- One count of perjury – a 15-year felony
Howard Croft – Former Director of the City of Flint,Department of Public Works
- Two counts of willful neglect of duty – each a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
Nancy Peeler – Current Early Childhood Health Section Manager, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Two counts of misconduct in office – each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
- One count of willful neglect of duty – a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
All defendants turned themselves in and have been arraigned. All have pled not guilty.
