HHS-OIG Reports No Responsive Records Concerning the Ann Arbor Police Department "Nick" DVD and the Debarment Process
One recurring issue throughout this archive concerns an unidentified individual referred to as "Nick." According to the Ann Arbor Police Department investigative record, "Nick" made telephone calls from the University of Michigan Hospital switchboard phone number, claimed to be a University of Michigan faculty member, and alleged that Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou were extorting Dr. Paul Cronin. After Dr. Myria Petrou's mother, Maria Petrou, withdrew her complaint against Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou, the Ann Arbor Police Department continued its criminal investigation based on allegations attributed to "Nick" that Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou were extorting Dr. Cronin.
As discussed in Ann Arbor Police Department DVD, HHS-OIG, FOIA Denial, and Subsequent Production, a May 1, 2025 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) response from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), identified an Ann Arbor Police Department DVD within the federal investigative file. Although the significance of the DVD was initially unclear, the Ann Arbor Police Department later produced the DVD under Evidence Tag 170003517.001, confirming that it consisted of the August 2017 "Nick" emails containing allegations that Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou were attempting to extort Dr. Cronin. Those emails had previously been associated with AAPD Case No. 17-3517. The significance of the HHS-OIG disclosure was not that it revealed the contents of the emails, which were already known, but that it documented the Ann Arbor Police Department DVD had been transmitted to and referenced within a federal HHS-OIG investigative file.
As discussed in The "Nick" Recordings and Emails, the Ann Arbor Police Department Evidence, an HHS-OIG DVD, and a Simple Question: What Records Document Their Handling?, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou submitted parallel Freedom of Information Act requests to the Ann Arbor Police Department and HHS-OIG seeking records documenting how the Ann Arbor Police Department DVD was handled and, if applicable, transmitted to federal authorities. Dr. Foerster requested audit logs, access logs, activity logs, transaction logs, and other system-generated records documenting access to the DVD maintained under Evidence Tag 170003517.001. The Ann Arbor Police Department reported that it had no responsive audit or access records documenting the handling of the "Nick" DVD or the "Nick" recordings of the calls from the University of Michigan hospital switchboard number. In parallel, HHS-OIG received a companion FOIA request seeking records documenting the DVD's receipt, transfer, custody, review, and use after it entered federal custody.
On July 2, 2026, HHS-OIG issued its final determinations. Although the agency acknowledged that the DVD originated with the Ann Arbor Police Department and advised that a copy should be obtained directly from AAPD, it reported that it could not locate any responsive records documenting the DVD's receipt, transfer, custody, review, or use within HHS-OIG. HHS-OIG reported that it could not locate records reflecting the DVD's acquisition, transmittal, interagency communications, evidence logs, chain of custody, or internal correspondence concerning the DVD.
The July 2, 2026 HHS-OIG determinations also addressed a second issue previously identified in records released during Dr. Foerster's litigated Freedom of Information Act case against the U.S. Department of Justice: the debarment process.
As discussed in DOJ Releases Second FBI Production: FBI Closed Case, HHS Pursued Debarment, FBI records released on June 16, 2026 as part of Dr. Foerster's litigated Freedom of Information Act case against the U.S. Department of Justice included multiple references to a debarment process involving Dr. Foerster and one or more additional redacted individuals. Those records included a February 21, 2019 FBI Electronic Communication stating "Restitution and Debarment Both in Process," an August 21, 2019 HHS-OIG closing memorandum referring to a "debarring process," and a December 19, 2019 FBI case-closing memorandum stating that HHS intended to pursue debarment after criminal prosecution had been declined. The records, however, did not explain what ultimately became of the debarment process or include any proposed debarment notice, administrative determination, or final debarment decision.
To determine whether additional records existed concerning those references, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou submitted targeted FOIA requests seeking any records reflecting, referencing, discussing, supporting, or documenting any proposed, contemplated, initiated, or completed debarment, exclusion, suspension, or grant-eligibility action concerning either individual.
On July 2, 2026, HHS-OIG issued final determinations in both requests, reporting that it had conducted a thorough search but could not locate any responsive documents concerning proposed, contemplated, initiated, or completed debarment, exclusion, suspension, or grant-eligibility actions relating to either Dr. Foerster or Dr. Petrou.
The targeted FOIA requests, HHS-OIG's July 2, 2026 final determinations, and the related documentary record are reproduced below.
Exhibit 1 – July 2, 2026 HHS-OIG Final Determination Regarding Ann Arbor Police Department DVD Records
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Exhibit 2 – July 2, 2026 HHS-OIG Final Determination Regarding Ann Arbor Police Department "Nick" DVD
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Exhibit 3 – July 2, 2026 HHS-OIG Final Determination Regarding Dr. Foerster Debarment Records
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Exhibit 4 – July 2, 2026 HHS-OIG Final Determination Regarding Dr. Petrou Debarment Records
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Selected Reporting
- From Mentor to Federal Investigation: The Dr. Eva Feldman Documentary Chronology
- July 26 Documentary Notice and Documentary Chronology Transmitted to City Attorney Kaur, Mayor Taylor, City Administrator Dohoney, and Police Chief Anderson Concerning Ann Arbor Police Department Investigations, Related City Proceedings, and Federal Investigations Involving Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou (2015–2026).
- July 7 Documentary Notice to University of Michigan Vice President and General Counsel Timothy G. Lynch Concerning University and Law Enforcement Investigations Involving Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou (2015–2026). July 8 UM Announces Lynch Leaving.
- 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
- The Institutional Fingerprint of the FBI Russia-Gate File: Referrals, Consults, Intelligence Reports, and the June 16, 2026 FBI Production
- Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou Document More Than Two Years of Unsuccessful Efforts to Trace Bank of Ann Arbor's $1.4 Million Sheriff's Sale Credit Bid (June 2026)
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 active in the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Takoma Park U.S. & World History Book Club.