Trash Mogul Rizzo Sentenced to Prison for Bribery, Wire Fraud

Chuck Rizzo, who became a millionaire with his garbage-hauling business, has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for bribing public officials and stealing money from investors in his own trash company.

Photo credit: Bre'Anna Tinsley/WDET

Sandra Svoboda

Trash kingpin Chuck Rizzo has been sentenced to 5 1/2years in prison after pleading guilty to bribery and wire fraud.

Rizzo built a garbage truck empire.

But prosecutors charged that he built it in part by bribing public officials in Macomb County to win contracts.

Rizzo, who was indicted a year ago, cut a plea deal acknowledging both the bribery charges and embezzling thousands of dollars from investors in his own company.

He secretly taped conversations for the FBI with officials accepting his bribes while arguing that he had been lured-in to the arrangements by the politicians.

Rizzo will also forfeit $4 million.

The case is part of a federal investigation into public corruption in Macomb County that has resulted in 15 convictions.  

Author

  • Quinn Klinefelter
    Quinn Klinefelter is a Senior News Editor at 101.9 WDET. In 1996, he was literally on top of the news when he interviewed then-Senator Bob Dole about his presidential campaign and stepped on his feet.