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Former Detroit Riverfront CFO Sentenced to 19 Years

Apr 24, 2025 | 4:03 PM

Photo: David Rodriguez Munoz ~ USA TODAY NETWORK

DETROIT, April 24, 2025 ~ The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy‘s former CFO William Smith was sentenced Thursday over his years-long embezzlement scheme.

He will be in prison for the next 19 years, per his sentencing, slightly below the maximum of 20 years he faced for his charges. Smith oversaw the theft of over $44 million from the organization that works to revitalize the Detroit Riverfront area of the city.

PODCAST:

April 21, 2025 ~ Crain’s Detroit Managing Business Editor Mike Lee talks with Lloyd Jackson, Jamie Edmonds, and Dr. Steve Craig about the CFO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy facing sentencing for embezzling over $40 million, tourism in Michigan declining because of tense U.S.-Canada relations, a small tower within the Renaissance Center for $9 million, and more.

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