Michigan Liquor Store Owner Charged with Bottle Deposit Scam
Lansing, Michigan – On Monday, Namir Shango, a 34-year-old liquor store owner, found himself in the hot waters in a mid-Michigan court. Prosecutor charged Shango with a serious allegation of using a bottle deposit fraud to siphon off money.
“Shango, a Davison-native, runs an establishment named Valley Liquor based in Mt. Morris.”, said the state attorney general. He presently faces a single charge of False Pretense, with an alleged amount between $50,000-$100,000.
Relying on his business, the prosecutors accuse Shango of devising a clever but illegal method to enrich himself. He allegedly created phony bottle deposit return receipts that seemed as if they came straight out of his own store’s processing machine.
“But here’s the juicy part.” These fake invoices were then presented to a soda distributor. In return, Shango received illegitimate credits for upcoming deliveries… Pretty slick, right?
The Michigan State Police unearthed this scam. “Our cherished bottle deposit program was created to promote recycling, not to provide a platform for foul play,” Dana Nessel, the state Attorney General stated. “Scamming business partners and exploiting a state-wide initiative for personal gain will not stand. We vow to bring such fraudsters to justice.” she further warned.
Shango will face the court again on August 29th. If found guilty, he will learn the hard way that recycling is indeed important… but committing fraud isn’t exactly the best way to do it.
Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER
NOVI STAFF WRITER The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
