Editing Eastpointe, Michigan (section)

===Mayor's criminal conviction===
On September 28, 2023, Eastpointe's departing mayor, [[Monique Owens]], pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of making a false statement. The case, which was initially charged as felony false pretenses, stemmed from her application for a CARES Act grant for her business. The application stated that her business, Naturally Funny Talent Agency, was 51 percent of more owned by veterans and that it had 100-249 employees. Upon investigation, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office determined that Owens had had never served in the military and that she was the sole employee of the company.<ref name="PleaMacombDaily">{{cite news|url=https://www.macombdaily.com/2023/09/28/eastpointe-mayor-pleads-no-contest-in-fraud-case/ |title=Eastpointe mayor pleads no contest in fraud case |newspaper=Macomb Daily |first=Susan |last=Smiley |date=September 28, 2023 |accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="PleaWXYZ">{{cite news|url=https://www.wxyz.com/news/mayor-of-eastpointe-takes-responsibility-in-covid-relief-fraud-case |title=Mayor of Eastpointe 'takes responsibility' in COVID relief fraud case |publisher=7 Action News (WXYZ) |first=Alisha |last=Dixon |date=September 28, 2023 |accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="PleaFox2">{{cite news|url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/eastpointe-mayor-pleads-no-contest-after-fraudulently-applying-for-grant |title=Eastpointe mayor pleads no contest after fraudulently receiving $10,000 grant |publisher=Fox 2 Detroit |first=Jack |last=Nissen |date=September 28, 2023 |accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="PleaWDIV">{{cite news|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2023/09/28/eastpointe-mayor-pays-10k-in-restitution-in-covid-fraud-case/ |title=Eastpointe mayor pays $10K in restitution in COVID fraud case |publisher=Local 4 (WDIV) |first=Dane |last=Kelly |date=September 28, 2023 |accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Pleadetroitnews">{{cite news|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2023/09/28/eastpointe-mayor-pleads-to-lying-to-get-covid-19-grant-in-2020/70991488007/ |title=Eastpointe mayor pleads to lying to get COVID-19 small business grant in 2020 |first=Kara |last=Berg |newspaper=Detroit News |date=September 28, 2023 |accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Pleafreep">{{cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/macomb/2023/09/28/eastpointe-mayor-monique-owens-covid-19-funds-fraud/70993504007/ |title=Eastpointe Mayor Monique Owens pleads no contest in COVID-19 relief funds fraud case |first=Christina |last=Hall |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=September 28, 2023 |accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Pleametrotimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news/embattled-eastpointe-mayor-pleads-to-reduced-charge-after-lying-about-covid-19-grant-34249553 |title=Embattled Eastpointe mayor pleads to reduced charge after lying about COVID-19 grant |first=Steve |last=Neavling |newspaper=Detroit Metro Times |date=September 28, 2023 |accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="pleaCG">{{cite news|url=https://www.candgnews.com/news/eastpointe-mayor-pleads-no-contest-to-misdemeanor-fraud-charge-3545 |title=Eastpointe mayor pleads no contest to misdemeanor fraud charge |first=Brian |last=Wells |newspaper=Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider |date=September 28, 2023 |accessdate=September 28, 2023}}</ref> On November 9, 2023, Owens was sentenced to six months of probation, 100 hours of community service, and $725 in court costs.<ref name="sentencingMD">{{cite news|url=https://www.macombdaily.com/2023/11/09/eastpointe-mayor-sentenced-in-fraud-case/ |title=Eastpointe mayor sentenced in fraud case |first=Susan |last=Smiley |date=November 9, 2023 |accessdate=November 9, 2023 |newspaper=Macomb Daily}}</ref><ref name="sentencingDFP">{{cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/macomb/2023/11/09/eastpointe-mayor-monique-owens-sentenced-covid-19-fraud/71478555007/ |title=Eastpointe Mayor Monique Owens gets 6 months' probation in COVID-19 funds fraud case |first=Christina |last=Hall |date=November 9, 2023 |accessdate=November 9, 2023 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press}}</ref>