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Ex-county employee, nonprofit director sentenced in bribery scheme to defraud low-income Detroiters
By Jenny Sherman, Kayla Clarke at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· July 2, 2026
· 2 min read
An ex-Wayne County Treasurer’s Office employee and a former Detroit nonprofit director were both sentenced Wednesday to serve time in federal prison following their convictions in a 2024 bribery scheme to defraud low-income homeowners facing tax foreclosure.Zina Thomas, 60, of Detroit, served as ...
Key takeaway “This process prevented dozens of properties from being auctioned off, depriving Wayne County of an estimated $1.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The sentencing of Zina Thomas and Jontae Jackson brings closure to a brazen scheme that exploited Detroit's most vulnerable residents, low-income homeowners on the brink of tax foreclosure. The fact that Thomas was able to operate in this space, leveraging her position at the United Community Housing Coalition, underscores the need for greater oversight of nonprofit organizations working with at-risk populations. The estimated $1.5 million in lost tax revenue to Wayne County is a significant blow, particularly given the county's ongoing budget constraints. As the city continues to grapple with issues of affordable housing and economic development, this case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting the rights of low-income homeowners. The collaboration between the FBI and the Wayne County Register of Deeds' Mortgage and Deed Fraud Unit in investigating this case demonstrates a commitment to addressing fraud and corruption in the region.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: July 2, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? An ex-Wayne County Treasurer’s Office employee and a former Detroit nonprofit director were both sentenced Wednesday to serve time in federal prison following their convictions in a 2024 bribery scheme to defraud low-income homeowners facing tax foreclosure.Zina Thomas, 60, of Detroit, served as ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 2, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jenny Sherman, Kayla Clarke at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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