A prominent Detroit businesswoman could soon be swapping out her comfortable home for a prison cell after allegedly using misappropriated funds for personal gain, including $6,000 on swanky Tunisian rugs.

Fay Beydoun, 62, of Farmington Hills, has been accused of creating a fake nonprofit organization called Global Link International Accelerator in July 2022 to fraudulently obtain a $20million grant from the State of Michigan. 

Beydoun is alleged to have used her political connections to funnel the state funds into her own pocket, according to Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Court documents, reviewed by the Daily Mail, also alleged Beydoun used the money to buy a $4,500 coffee maker, and a $11,000 first-class plane ticket, among other things, and intended to pay herself an $800,000-a-year salary. 

'Our investigation has thus far established evidence that Fay Beydoun allegedly put misappropriated funds to her own personal use and enrichment,' Nessel said. 

Nessel said Beydoun lied to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) about specific expenses that would go against the grant's use to 'further a criminal enterprise of her own financial gain.' 

Beydoun's attorney said in a statement to Fox 2 Detroit that the claim was 'illogical' and the attorney general's office was making this a 'public spectacle' that wasn't supported by evidence. 

'As always, we will save our best arguments for the courtroom and pursue every avenue available for our client,'  the statement said.

Only $10million of the grant was paid out, and officials have frozen $6.5million in Beydoun's possession, Nessel said. 

Many involved in the grant process believed the businesswoman would use it through her job at the Arab American Chamber of Commerce, according to the affidavit. 

She was charged with 16 felony counts, including conducting a criminal enterprise, forgery, and larceny by conversion.

The attorney general alleged that the scheme went undetected as state officials do not audit a grantee's submissions until after the first 50 percent of the funds are spent. 

Prior to that, MEDC – where she was on the board – reviewed the expenses to make sure they fell into the agreed categories. 

'So if the grantee's budget is vague or superficial, the statutory requirements allow a grantee to escape close scrutiny of its expenses until it reaches the 50 percent threshold,' the affidavit, viewed by the Daily Mail, said. 

While filling out the application for Global Link, Beydoun put her home address in Farmington Hills on the application and listed herself as the primary contact. 

She said the company supported the Michigan economy by 'attracting top international entrepreneurs to establish their companies' in the state. 

Beydoun also requested $4million each for 'general admin cost' and consultants, and $12million for 'other' expenses, the affidavit showed. 

Officials did not question her vague budget and accepted the proposal. 

The AG's office found that only $20,000 of the $1.35million issued 'could possibly be attributed to "supporting the growth of the Michigan economy by attracting top international entrepreneurs."' 

Beydoun allegedly submitted fraudulent expense reports, including a law invoice, which the law firm confirmed they had not done work for her, outside of reviewing her Global Link contract, for which he charged more than $20,000, the affidavit showed. 

She also submitted an invoice for nearly $41,000 on a two-year lease for a Dearborn address. The address led to a vacant lot, the affidavit said. 

She also billed a trip to Tunisia, submitting a $6,148.88 expense. It said she paid for catering for five people and more, but the invoice only showed that she purchased 'two handmade rugs,' the affidavit said. 

Investigators allege that Beydoun used the grant money to pay her personal legal bills, buy items for herself and her son, hold political events at her house, and to pay for a lease Global Link never used, the affidavit said. 

Beydoun faces more than 170 years in prison for her alleged crimes.