Detroit
Former money manager: union official got favors
DETROIT (AP) -- A former Chicago money manager has told the FBI that arranging for an inflated purchase price of a Detroit-area union official's home was among the favors he performed in return for the union investing $65 million of its pension funds with his company, according to reports.
A review of documents obtained by The Detroit News indicates that John Orecchio of AA Capital Partners said in exchange for the Operating Engineers Pension Fund's investment, he arranged for John Hamilton's home to be purchased for $650,000 in February 2004.
Hamilton is the business manager and general vice president of Local 324 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Records show the home in St. Clair County's Cottrellville Township was resold in September 2005 for $500,000.
Hamilton could not immediately be reached for comment.
Hillsdale
Slaying suspect arrested at Ill. homeless shelter
HILLSDALE, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan man sought in the shooting death of his 71-year-old housemate has been arrested at a homeless shelter about 50 miles west of Chicago.
The Hillsdale County sheriff's office says in a release that 49-year-old James McKinney is charged with homicide in James Harper's slaying. Harper's body was found Saturday in their Pittsford home, about 80 miles southwest of Detroit.
McKinney was driving Harper's van when he was arrested Friday in DeKalb County, Ill., on a suspended license and obstruction of justice. He was released later that day on bond.
Hillsdale authorities asked DeKalb deputies to search area homeless shelters. McKinney was arrested Monday as he was leaving one shelter.
He is being held in Illinois pending a return to Hillsdale County.
Pontiac
Lawyer says there is no evidence teen killed men
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- A lawyer for a Michigan teenager says there is reasonable doubt whether his client participated in the fatal beatings of two homeless men.
Defense attorney Howard Arnkoff told a jury Tuesday that 15-year-old Thomas McCloud was staying at his brother's home in Waterford Township at the time of the August 2008 attacks in nearby Pontiac.
McCloud is charged with felony murder in the deaths of Wilford Hamilton and Lee Hoffman. The homeless men, both 61 years old, died after they were beaten.
The teen faces life in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors say McCloud told police he was part of a group that attacked the men.
Closing statements were set for later Tuesday for 15-year-old co-defendant Dontez Tillman, who also is charged in Hamilton's death.
