Fmr Belding mayor faces federal charges

BELDING, MIch. (WOOD) - The former Belding mayor that suddenly resigned in July faces federal charges, 24 Hour News 8 learned Thursday.

Shane Husted has been accused of embezzling $36,118.96 from the First Bank of West Michigan, federal records show.

He was an employee at the bank but was fired early this year. After receiving a number of e-mails from concerned Belding residents, 24 Hour News 8 questioned the mayor about the termination. Husted told 24 Hour News 8 he was fired for a personnel matter, not a criminal matter.

Federal documents were filed Thursday that accuse Husted of taking out thousands of dollars in loans in other peoples' names without their permission. The documents say Husted then kept the money for his personal use.

These allegations are not the first regarding Husted and money. In August, The Ionia Sentinel-Standard reported that the former mayor and his wife were being sued amid allegations that they embezzled from the Belding Covered Village Mall. Husted's wife, Mindy, was the vice president of the mall's association.

24 Hour News 8 went to Husted's Belding home and contacted him on his cell phone for comment, but he has yet to respond.

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