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Taylor, Mich., real estate developer will spend over a year in prison for bribing the city's former mayor. According to court documents, Shady Awad, 44, of Allen Park, paid off Rick Sollars with cash, home improvements, appliances, and other perks from 2016-18. He also charged $19,000 on his credit card and converted it into cash for Sollars.

    Sollars was sentenced to 71 months in prison after pleading guilty in 2023 to accepting over $85,000 in bribes. In exchange, he recommended Awad's company receive the majority of tax-foreclosed properties through Taylor's Right of First Refusal program. The program allowed the city to acquire and redevelop properties from Wayne County.

    Awad was sentenced to one year and one day behind bars for his role in the scheme.