Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on May 6 that Fay Beydoun, a resident of Farmington Hills, faces 16 felony charges for allegedly stealing and misusing funds from a $20 million state legislative grant awarded to Global Link International, a company she created and controlled. The charges include conducting a criminal enterprise, forgery, uttering and publishing, and larceny by conversion.
The case highlights concerns about oversight in the administration of public grants. Nessel said the process for awarding this particular grant “bears practically zero semblance to the traditional grant process” and was made possible through “a system that pairs political cronyism with minimal oversight.” She also pointed out that since the Global Link grant was enacted, some reforms have been introduced by lawmakers but called for continued vigilance: “These reforms are meaningful, but with millions of dollars in public funding at hand, the State and each of its agencies must do more to prevent abuses of state funds and to require responsible administration of enhancement grants — regardless of whether their recipients enjoy positions of power, privilege, and political connections.”
According to information released by Nessel’s office, Beydoun is accused of using appropriated funds for personal expenses rather than business development as intended. Specific allegations include forging an invoice from a law firm for personal legal expenses; presenting false lease descriptions; submitting receipts for Tunisian rugs as if they were event costs; claiming catering expenses as business-related when they were used for private dinners involving Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; purchasing home decor and gardening supplies with grant money; and submitting false reports to maintain her salary.
Beydoun had secured the “Michigan enhancement grant” under Public Act 166 of 2022 while serving on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Executive Committee. No businesses reportedly relocated to Michigan through Global Link International’s efforts during this period. The MEDC terminated its contract with Global Link International in March 2025 after reports surfaced regarding financial irregularities. In September 2025, over $6.3 million in remaining funds held in accounts linked to Beydoun were frozen by authorities.
An arraignment date has not yet been set as investigations continue into how these public funds were managed.
Nessel concluded her statement by reminding the public: “Today, we allege Fay Beydoun sought and received a $20 million ‘Michigan enhancement grant’ from the state Legislature, operated a criminal enterprise to use those funds for personal expenses and her own enrichment, and lied repeatedly when reporting how she used those funds.”