“Restitution and Debarment Both in Process”: Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou Seek Answers About One FBI Record Withheld by the University of Michigan, NIH Grant Funds, and Federal Prosecution Agreements
One day after Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou asked University of Michigan General Counsel Patricia Petrowski to meet with them about federal records documenting restitution and debarment, Dr. Foerster filed a targeted Univeristy of Michigan FOIA request. The October 17, 2026 request asks whether money was returned or transferred in connection with Dr. Foerster, Dr. Petrou, Duaa Altaee, or NIH ALS Grant R01NS082304—and whether any agreement governed restitution or the disposition of federal criminal charges.
Neither Dr. Foerster nor Dr. Petrou knew that any restitution or debarment process was underway. Neither was aware of or had authorized any agreement concerning restitution, debarment, a transfer of funds, or the disposition of federal charges.
On April 21, 2026, the University responded to Dr. Myria Petrou’s broad request for FBI-generated records received or possessed by the University after September 20, 2019 that referenced Dr. Petrou and/or Dr. Bradley Foerster.
“We have performed a reasonable search and identified one responsive record. The record is exempt and withheld from disclosure.”
The University withheld the FBI-generated record in full under MCL 15.243(1)(m), the advisory-communications exemption. The University also declined to describe the record, stating that any further description would reveal the withheld information.
The subject of the withheld FBI-generated record remains unknown.
University response to FOIA Request No. 261437 identifying one responsive FBI-generated record concerning Dr. Myria Petrou and/or Dr. Bradley Foerster, withholding the record in full, and declining to provide any further description.
Dr. Foerster subsequently submitted targeted requests for FBI-generated records concerning specific subjects to determine whether the withheld record fell within any of those categories:
- NIH Grant R01NS082304 — FOIA Request No. 261840;
- “Shonda”—the woman from Detroit identified by Maria Petrou, Dr. Petrou’s mother—also referenced as “MS” — FOIA Request No. 270193;
- Dr. Paul Cronin, “Nick,” “Nickbee,” and alleged extortion reported by Dr. Foerster and/or Dr. Petrou — FOIA Request No. 270083;
- Russia-Gate and alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election reported by Dr. Foerster and/or Dr. Petrou — FOIA Request No. 270273;
- Debarment, suspension, exclusion, and eligibility for federal funding — FOIA Request No. 270399;
- Ann Arbor Police Department Case No. 17-3517 and its financial investigation — FOIA Request No. 270463;
- Financial, property, business, and alleged financial-misconduct matters involving Dr. Foerster and/or Dr. Petrou — FOIA Request No. 270542;
- The marriage of Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou and Dr. Petrou’s immigration or citizenship history — FOIA Request No. 270628; and
- The University’s Bylaw 5.09 proceedings and Hall Render — FOIA Request No. 270575.
The University issued a no-records determination for each targeted request. The complete 20-page collection contains the original broad response and all nine subject-specific determinations:
After Dr. Petrou submitted the initial broad University request, Dr. Foerster obtained additional FBI records through Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice. Those records document restitution, a University funds transfer, debarment, and the declination of federal criminal prosecution.
A February 21, 2019 FBI record documents a February 20 discussion involving the University’s Office of the Vice President and General Counsel and HHS-OIG. The record states that the University had reviewed NIH Grant R01NS082304 and concluded that $294,284.02 would be reduced from the grant because of the University’s “insufficient confidence” in a portion of the grant expenditures.
“Restitution and debarment both in process.”
Differently redacted releases of the same FBI record—one produced to Dr. Foerster through Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice and the other released separately to Dr. Petrou—identify both Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou in the debarment passage. The record also states that the assigned Assistant U.S. Attorney had advised that no criminal charges would be brought against the persons involved.
The FBI record further states that, when either the University funds transfer or the debarment process was completed, the supporting paperwork would be documented in the FBI case file.
Differently redacted versions released to Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou of the FBI Electronic Communication titled “Restitution and debarment both in process.” The records document the proposed $294,284.02 grant reduction, the debarment process, the declination of criminal charges, and supporting paperwork to be placed in the FBI case file.
An October 15, 2019 FBI record documents follow-up contact with an HHS-OIG special agent concerning the debarment process. The HHS-OIG special agent had not been advised of any change in the debarment status.
FBI Electronic Communication documenting follow-up with HHS-OIG concerning the status of the debarment process.
A December 19, 2019 FBI closure record states that the FBI received notice from HHS that the University had returned approximately $250,000 in NIH grant funds. The record also states that HHS was pursuing debarment from future federal funding.
The released records do not establish whether the proposed $294,284.02 reduction and the later approximately $250,000 return were the same transaction, identify the source or mechanism of the transfer, or include the supporting paperwork that the FBI stated would be placed in the case file after the funds transfer or debarment process was completed.
FBI Electronic Communication stating that the University returned approximately $250,000 in NIH grant funds, that HHS was pursuing debarment, and that the FBI investigation was closed.
On October 16, 2026, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou asked University General Counsel Patricia Petrowski to meet with them and clarify the University’s involvement in the federal investigation, restitution, and debarment process.
The correspondence acknowledged that the events occurred during Timothy Lynch’s tenure as General Counsel and that Patricia Petrowski might not have been involved or fully briefed. Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou asked the University to determine:
- what University counsel communicated to the FBI and HHS-OIG concerning Dr. Foerster, Dr. Petrou, their reports, and the grant;
- what restitution was contemplated and whether any payment or transfer was proposed, agreed upon, or completed;
- what debarment or other funding restrictions were pursued and how those matters concluded;
- whether anyone purported to agree to restitution, debarment, or another resolution on behalf of Dr. Foerster or Dr. Petrou without their knowledge or authorization; and
- whether any related restrictions or administrative consequences remain in effect.
The October 16 correspondence and the underlying FBI records are reproduced here:
The University has already acknowledged possessing one FBI-generated record regarding Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou that it is not releasing. Dr. Foerster submitted the October 17 request to determine whether that withheld record concerns the restitution, University funds transfer, debarment, or declination of criminal prosecution documented in the subsequently released FBI records.
Dr. Foerster’s October 17, 2026 request asks whether money was returned or transferred in connection with Dr. Foerster, Dr. Petrou, Duaa Altaee, and/or NIH ALS Grant R01NS082304.
The request seeks FBI-generated records concerning:
- any proposed or actual restitution, repayment, reimbursement, or return or transfer of funds involving, attributed to, or made on behalf of Dr. Foerster, Dr. Petrou, or Duaa Altaee;
- the amount, source, recipient, purpose, and conditions of any payment or transfer;
- any proposed or actual agreement concerning whether federal criminal charges would be filed, deferred, declined, dismissed, or not pursued; and
- the identity, role, and claimed authority of anyone who purported to negotiate, accept, or act on behalf of Dr. Foerster, Dr. Petrou, or Duaa Altaee.
The request directs the University to use FOIA Request No. 261437—the request for which the University identified and withheld one FBI-generated record—as a search parameter.
What remains unresolved is what occurred, whether any agreement governed the process, and who—if anyone—had authority to act on behalf of Dr. Foerster, Dr. Petrou, or the third individual whose name remains redacted in the FBI records.
Request for FBI-generated records concerning restitution, fund transfers, federal prosecution agreements, and the authority of anyone who purported to act on behalf of the individuals identified in the FBI records.
HHS-OIG Case 5-17-0-0192-4 Documentary Chronology
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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.