Ex-Detroit Public Library official charged with taking $1.4 million in bribes

Timothy Cromer accused of taking more than $1.4 million in bribes, kickbacks from Detroit Public Library contractors

DETROIT – The former chief administrative and technology officer of the Detroit Public Library has been charged with taking more than $1.4 million in bribes and kickbacks from contracts of the library.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Tuesday that Timothy Cromer, 46, held his position at the library from 2006 to 2013. He has been charged with a 21-county indictment. Contractors James Henley and Ricardo Hearn also are named in the indictment.

According to the charges, Cromer helped Henley create a business in 2007 called Core Consulting and Professional Services and then instructed him to submit a proposal for information technology services at the Detroit Public Library.

Cromer arranged for Core to win the bid and approved various change orders and extensions, causing the Detroit Public Library to pay Core a total of about $1.8 million.

Henley allegedly kicked back about $500,000 to Cromer until Core's contract with the Detroit Public Library was terminated in January 2008. Henley kicked back an additional $125,000 to Cromer as he continued to approve the invoices.

Cromer also is charged with receiving kickbacks from Hearn between 2008 and 2010. Hearn did information technology services at the Detroit Public Library. His company, Cubemation, received $2.8 million in payments from the library, according to the indictment, and Hearn delivered about $800,000 in cash to Cromer during that time.

If convicted, the trio could face a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 for each bribery count.

The indictment also seeks forfeiture of proceeds and payments associated with the bribery scheme.