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Former MSP trooper pleads guilty to embezzlement scheme

Former MSP trooper pleads to embezzlement scheme
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A former Michigan State Trooper has admitted to stealing more than $170,000 dollars.

Seth Swanson, 31, of Royal Oak, pleaded guilty as charged to one felony count of Embezzlement by a Public Official and one felony count of Utter and Publishing False Secretary of State documents allowing issuance of good motor vehicle titles.

During his time as a state certified salvage vehicle inspector, he forged Secretary of State documents and pocketed $100 dollar vehicle inspection fees from 1,701 inspections between August 2014 and December 2015.

The former State Trooper had been a state-certified salvage vehicle inspector since 2011

Swanson used the fees he pocketed for personal purposes, including paying personal credit card debt, vacations, paying for multiple plastic surgeries, and for home improvements for himself and family.

As a result of the investigation, Swanson was suspended without pay effective Feb. 10, 2016. He then resigned from the state police on Oct. 24, 2016.

Swanson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 28, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. before Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Potts.