Turkia Mullin Cleared Of All Potential Charges By The FBI & US Attorney's Office

DETROIT, Feb. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- After a grueling three-and-a-half years, Turkia Awada Mullin has been cleared by the United States Department of Justice of all potential charges related to her employment with Wayne County (Mich.).  In a letter to Mullin, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade completely exonerated her, stating, "We have not identified violations of federal law involving you, and therefore, we do not intend to bring charges against you in connection with the investigation."

"This was the right thing to do, and an expected conclusion for which we have waited over three years," stated Mullin's attorney Robert E. Forrest of Kerr, Russell and Weber, PLC, in Detroit.  "The United States Attorney's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have examined thousands of documents and conducted countless interviews.  To their credit, it is important to recognize their public and written declaration of Ms. Mullin's innocence, which is unusual in these cases.  It is a significant step toward repairing the unwarranted damage to her reputation and livelihood." 

This is yet another victory for Mullin. After a civil trial in 2013, Mullin and her long-time attorney Raymond J. Sterling of Sterling Attorneys at Law, PC, in Bloomfield Hills, MI secured the written opinion of retired Judge Paul S. Teranes. The opinion stated that the Wayne County Airport Authority violated her employment contract and constitutional due process rights when she was improperly terminated as CEO of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

"A couple of months ago, with strong caution from my attorney that voluntary statements could be misconstrued and used against me, I voluntarily made the decision to speak fully and frankly with the FBI and the government attorneys.  I declined their offer of any kind of immunity, and answered all inquiries on a variety of topics of interest to them to the best of my ability. I had full belief in the system and knew there would be the day when truth would prevail. That day has finally come," Mullin said. "Today I seek to clear my name, move forward and re-establish my credibility, professional career and reputation."

Professional Background that Speaks for Itself
Mullin, a licensed attorney and University of Detroit-Mercy Law School graduate, has an extensive background in real estate development, passed the CPA exam, and is a licensed real estate broker.  She also is a veteran of the U.S. Army, where she was honored with the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal, and served eight years — two of those years on active duty.

Previously, she served as an Assistant Wayne County Executive and was Director of the County's Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE).  During her tenure as chief development officer, investment commitments in Wayne County exceeded $5 billion. The investment commitments in that two-year period were more than the entire previous decade. Site Selection Magazine recognized Turkia Mullin's team as one of the Top Ten Economic Development Groups in the country and Turkia Mullin was named a "Woman to Watch" by Crain's Detroit Business.  Known for her no-nonsense approach, Turkia Mullin made her mark in the county as executive director of the Land Bank.  She also led more than eight nationally recognized award-winning programs.

Under her leadership, Wayne County completed numerous complex deals that have saved taxpayers millions of dollars, attracted new business and created thousands of jobs.  She was instrumental in creating a viable legal and financial framework to own and manage COBO Hall and its renovations as a regional asset at a time when COBO was costing the City of Detroit over $16 million annually. Turkia Mullin also led the acquisition and renovation of the Guardian Building. She played a key role in expediting approvals that allowed Ford Motor Company to invest more than $1 billion in retooling its Michigan assembly plant. 

Mullin also was instrumental in fast-tracking approvals for the Vanguard-DMC merger that allowed the deal to move forward and Vanguard to invest more than $800 million in capital improvements into the hospital network.

Most recently, as CEO of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, she made numerous recommendations that are still being implemented today. Among them:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Elimination of operational redundancies and merging units, cross training staff to create efficiencies
• Shared services with neighboring communities
• Expedited the opening of the veterans service center

"Since age 12, working as a paper carrier, I have performed with professionalism, integrity and sound judgment," Mullin said.  "I have worked hard for everything that I have accomplished in my life and in my professional career and I am grateful for the health of my family and all of the opportunities I have had and sincerely appreciate those that have stood by me during these tumultuous years of my life. I am very much looking forward to the next chapter."

SOURCE Turkia Mullin