“They Did Not Trust Law Enforcement in Michigan”: 2019 University of Michigan FOIA Release of FBI Boston Complaint, Federal Lawsuit, AAPD Records, and Communications with Associate General Counsel Christine Gerdes
On September 20, 2019, the University of Michigan produced FBI records in response to FOIA Request FOE 0764-19. The records document a July 28, 2017 complaint made by Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou at the FBI’s Boston Field Office; a federal lawsuit against Ann Arbor officials; and subsequent FBI communications with University of Michigan Associate General Counsel Christine Gerdes, the Ann Arbor Police Department, University police, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
Drs. Foerster and Petrou reported allegations involving NIH grant funds, missing VA research funds, University of Michigan medical-billing practices, and related retaliation. Dr. Foerster advised the FBI that he possessed documents, emails, and recorded conversations supporting the allegations.
The FBI asked why they had not reported the allegations to an FBI office in Michigan. The record states:
“They stated that they did not trust law enforcement in Michigan because they feel like they have reported this fraud to the appropriate authorities and nothing has been done. They feel like it was all swept under the rug because there may be a much larger fraud going on.”
The 2019 University of Michigan FOIA production documents direct communications between FBI Special Agent Susan Lucas and University of Michigan Associate General Counsel Christine Gerdes regarding the University’s internal review of allegations reported by Dr. Foerster .
On August 3, 2017, the FBI agent also identified a federal lawsuit filed by Drs. Foerster and Petrou in the Eastern District of Michigan. The FBI described the lawsuit as alleging “intimidation and improper criminal investigation” and identified officials of the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) and the City of Ann Arbor among the defendants.
That day, FBI Special Agent Susan Lucas contacted:
- AAPD Detective Bradley Rougeau regarding possible overlap between the federal complaint and the AAPD investigation;
- VA-OIG Special Agent Ray White regarding the reported VA research funds; and
- University of Michigan Police Chief Robert Neumann regarding any University reports or investigations involving the NIH or VA grant allegations.
AAPD Detective Bradley Rougeau stated that the AAPD investigation was not itself focused on grant or healthcare fraud. The AAPD detective also stated, however, that information uncovered during the local investigation could support healthcare-fraud allegations contained in the FBI complaint and agreed to provide the records to the FBI.
The FBI record states that VA-OIG Special Agent Ray White was interested in interviewing Dr. Foerster the following week. VA-OIG never contacted or interviewed Dr. Foerster regarding the referral.
On August 4, 2017, FBI Special Agent Susan Lucas requested copies of the AAPD reports, incident records, and complaints involving Dr. Foerster.
On August 7, 2017, the FBI agent met with AAPD Detective Bradley Rougeau to collect the records. The materials were described as too voluminous to transmit by email and were retained by the FBI for reference.
The completed FBI complaint form lists notes, the federal lawsuit, University of Michigan information, and AAPD paperwork on disk among the enclosed materials.
Certain identifying information has been redacted pursuant to a court-ordered confidentiality agreement.
.png)
%202.png)
%203.png)
%204.png)
_Redacted.png)
%205.png)
%206.png)
%207.png)
%208.png)
%209.png)
HHS-OIG Case 5-17-0-0192-4 Documentary Chronology
← Previous
|
Return to HHS-OIG Documentary Chronology
|
Next →
Selected Reporting
- Bradley Foerster Submits 140-Exhibit, 1,121-Page Documentary Chronology to FBI for Supervisory Review of the Investigation Involving Dr. Bradley Foerster, Dr. Myria Petrou, and Duaa Altaee
- From One FBI File to a Legislative Proposal: Peter and Maria Foerster Ask Senator Van Hollen's Office and Congressman Jamie Raskin to Consider a Uniform Administrative Framework for Federal Investigations
- Eva Feldman Documentary Chronology: 139 Exhibits on NIH R01NS082304, University Proceedings, and Federal Investigation — No Response Received
- Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou Send Ann Arbor Officials Documentary Chronology on AAPD and Related Federal Investigations — No Response Received
- Timothy Lynch Documentary Chronology: 63 Exhibits on University of Michigan Office of General Counsel, University Investigations, and Law Enforcement — No Response Received
- Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou Documentary Chronology: 8 Exhibits Document More Than Two Years of Efforts to Trace Bank of Ann Arbor's $1.4 Million Sheriff's Sale Credit Bid — No Response Received
Brad Foerster, MD PhD
Brad Foerster is a FOIA advocate documenting requests, transparency disputes, and accountability investigations involving public agencies, universities, police oversight, and Russia-Gate related inquiries. His work compiles original documents, timelines, and analysis of public records and institutional responses. Brad is also a board-certified radiologist, author of Town & Gown, and has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles. Brad lives in Potomac, Maryland with his family and is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Takoma Park U.S. & World History Book Club.