Hastings Man Charged With Stealing Over $100000 in Federal Taxpayer Funds

A Hastings, Michigan, man faces federal charges for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 in taxpayer funds, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on May 7, 2026.

Michael Brooks, 57, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan on one count of theft of public money in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641. The indictment alleges Brooks converted more than $100,000 in federal funds to his own use between specific dates detailed in the charging document. The statute carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The case forms part of the Justice Department's broader enforcement initiative targeting theft from federal programs. The indictment does not specify which federal program the funds originated from, but the charge applies to any money belonging to the United States or any department or agency thereof.

A conviction would require Brooks to repay the full amount stolen plus any applicable interest and could include forfeiture of assets acquired with the proceeds.

The operational change is immediate: Brooks must now appear in federal court to face the charge, triggering standard pretrial procedures, discovery and a potential trial timeline set by the Western District of Michigan's criminal docket. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan will prosecute the case.

If convicted, sentencing would follow federal guidelines that weigh the amount stolen, acceptance of responsibility and criminal history.

Downstream, the indictment starts a formal restitution process that can compel full repayment to the federal agency whose funds were taken. It also activates agency-level reviews of internal controls at the affected program to prevent similar losses.

The case will consume prosecutorial and court resources in the Western District, where federal theft cases compete for docket space with other white-collar and public-corruption matters. A conviction would further allow the Department of Justice to seek civil remedies in addition to criminal penalties.

This indictment follows a series of similar DOJ actions in Michigan and nationwide that focus on individuals who convert federal grant, benefit or contract money. The charge under 18 U.S.C. § 641 has been used in prior cases involving thefts from programs administered by the Departments of Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services.

The Western District of Michigan has publicly announced multiple such theft prosecutions in the past 24 months.