Kent Syverud Withdraws As University of Michigan President Weeks After Receiving My Letter On Cassandra Fameux Case
By Milton Allimadi Photos:U Michigan website|Change.org On April 15, 2026, University of Michigan President-elect Kent Syverud announced that he would not assume the presidency following a diagnosis of brain cancer. In a public statement, he disclosed that after seeking care at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse and further evaluation in Michigan, his condition would prevent him from serving, though he may continue contributing as a law professor and advisor. His withdrawal comes shortly after I sent him a detailed letter regarding the University of Michigan’s continued failure to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request filed by Black Star News on October 15, 2025. The request concerns serious allegations of “poisoning” involving the treatment of Haitian immigrant Cassandra Fameux by her ex-husband Dr. Paul Gregory St. Claire, formerly an anesthesiologist at U Michigan Health Sparrow and the university’s handling of related information. Despite payment of required fees and repeated assurances, the university has yet to produce the requested records, extending deadlines multiple times. While Dr. Syverud’s health situation deserves respect and empathy–which I extend to him and his family–the unresolved issue of institutional transparency remains. Accountability is not contingent on circumstance. The public—and those directly affected—are still owed answers. A copy of my letter to Dr. Syverud, which was also shared with the University of Michigan Board of Regents, appears below. 2394 Grand Concourse Avenue, Suite 2 Bronx, New York, 10458 (917) 724-4427 mallimadi@gmail.com April 1, 2026 Kent Syverud, President and Chancellor Syracuse University Dear Chancellor Syverud, I am a 1985 and 1987 graduate of Syracuse University, holding both an undergraduate degree and a Master’s degree in Economics. I am currently a PhD student in History at Howard University. I previously served as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University and at John Jay College of the City University of New York. I am also the publisher of Black Star News and an investigative reporter. As a Syracuse alumnus, I congratulate you as incoming President of the University of Michigan. As President, I hope that your response to the concerns raised in this letter will reflect the standards of professionalism and respect expected of your office. Unfortunately, this has not been my experience under the current University of Michigan administration. First, some contextual narrative. In 2023, I was contacted by a Haitian immigrant, Cassandra Fameux, who resides in Okemos, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan. She alleged that her then-husband, Dr. Paul Gregory St. Claire—formerly employed by U Michigan Health Sparrow as an anesthesiologist—illegally drugged her at the hospital with antipsychotic medications intended to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder from 2014 to 2023. She maintains that she does not suffer from either condition, and two psychiatrists confirmed this in 2024. Ms. Fameux further alleged that her husband’s U Michigan colleague, Dr. Dominic Barberio, misdiagnosed her in order to facilitate the alleged drugging. From 2014 to 2017, she was administered an oral medication, Risperdal. From 2017 to 2021, she was injected monthly with Invega Sustenna. After she developed a brain tumor, Dr. St. Claire and Dr. Barberio reportedly switched to an oral medication, Abilify. In addition to developing a brain tumor, Ms. Fameux also suffered a heart condition requiring the implantation of a loop monitor, experienced excessive bleeding during her menstrual cycles, and underwent surgery that left her infertile. According to Ms. Fameux, the motive behind these actions was to compel her—while under the influence of these drugs—to sign a Judgment of Separate Maintenance (JOSM) on February 20, 2018. This agreement transferred all marital assets, including millions of dollars and two marital homes, to Dr. St. Claire. It also gave him an advantage regarding custody of their three minor children at the time by designating Dr. Barberio as the psychiatrist responsible for determining Ms. Fameux’s mental fitness to co-parent. Beginning in November 2023, I published a series of articles based on Ms. Fameux’s allegations, on each occasion contacting U Michigan and other relevant parties for comment. U Michigan Health Sparrow terminated Dr. St. Claire’s employment on February 28, 2024. However, unlike in other cases, including that of former head football coach Sherrone Moore, the University did not issue any public statement explaining the reasons for his termination. According to court filings in the couple’s subsequent divorce proceedings, Dr. St. Claire received severance. The alleged drugging took place in Dr. Barberio’s office at U Michigan Sparrow. Although U Michigan hospital records indicate that Dr. Barberio administe
Black News 
By Milton Allimadi
Photos:U Michigan website|Change.org
On April 15, 2026, University of Michigan President-elect Kent Syverud announced that he would not assume the presidency following a diagnosis of brain cancer.
In a public statement, he disclosed that after seeking care at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse and further evaluation in Michigan, his condition would prevent him from serving, though he may continue contributing as a law professor and advisor.
His withdrawal comes shortly after I sent him a detailed letter regarding the University of Michigan’s continued failure to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request filed by Black Star News on October 15, 2025. The request concerns serious allegations of “poisoning” involving the treatment of Haitian immigrant Cassandra Fameux by her ex-husband Dr. Paul Gregory St. Claire, formerly an anesthesiologist at U Michigan Health Sparrow and the university’s handling of related information.
Despite payment of required fees and repeated assurances, the university has yet to produce the requested records, extending deadlines multiple times.
While Dr. Syverud’s health situation deserves respect and empathy–which I extend to him and his family–the unresolved issue of institutional transparency remains. Accountability is not contingent on circumstance. The public—and those directly affected—are still owed answers.
A copy of my letter to Dr. Syverud, which was also shared with the University of Michigan Board of Regents, appears below.
2394 Grand Concourse Avenue, Suite 2
Bronx, New York, 10458
(917) 724-4427
April 1, 2026
Kent Syverud, President and Chancellor
Syracuse University
Dear Chancellor Syverud,
I am a 1985 and 1987 graduate of Syracuse University, holding both an undergraduate degree and a Master’s degree in Economics. I am currently a PhD student in History at Howard University. I previously served as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University and at John Jay College of the City University of New York. I am also the publisher of Black Star News and an investigative reporter.
As a Syracuse alumnus, I congratulate you as incoming President of the University of Michigan. As President, I hope that your response to the concerns raised in this letter will reflect the standards of professionalism and respect expected of your office. Unfortunately, this has not been my experience under the current University of Michigan administration.
First, some contextual narrative. In 2023, I was contacted by a Haitian immigrant, Cassandra Fameux, who resides in Okemos, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan. She alleged that her then-husband, Dr. Paul Gregory St. Claire—formerly employed by U Michigan Health Sparrow as an anesthesiologist—illegally drugged her at the hospital with antipsychotic medications intended to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder from 2014 to 2023. She maintains that she does not suffer from either condition, and two psychiatrists confirmed this in 2024.
Ms. Fameux further alleged that her husband’s U Michigan colleague, Dr. Dominic Barberio, misdiagnosed her in order to facilitate the alleged drugging. From 2014 to 2017, she was administered an oral medication, Risperdal. From 2017 to 2021, she was injected monthly with Invega Sustenna. After she developed a brain tumor, Dr. St. Claire and Dr. Barberio reportedly switched to an oral medication, Abilify.
In addition to developing a brain tumor, Ms. Fameux also suffered a heart condition requiring the implantation of a loop monitor, experienced excessive bleeding during her menstrual cycles, and underwent surgery that left her infertile.
According to Ms. Fameux, the motive behind these actions was to compel her—while under the influence of these drugs—to sign a Judgment of Separate Maintenance (JOSM) on February 20, 2018. This agreement transferred all marital assets, including millions of dollars and two marital homes, to Dr. St. Claire. It also gave him an advantage regarding custody of their three minor children at the time by designating Dr. Barberio as the psychiatrist responsible for determining Ms. Fameux’s mental fitness to co-parent.
Beginning in November 2023, I published a series of articles based on Ms. Fameux’s allegations, on each occasion contacting U Michigan and other relevant parties for comment. U Michigan Health Sparrow terminated Dr. St. Claire’s employment on February 28, 2024. However, unlike in other cases, including that of former head football coach Sherrone Moore, the University did not issue any public statement explaining the reasons for his termination. According to court filings in the couple’s subsequent divorce proceedings, Dr. St. Claire received severance.
The alleged drugging took place in Dr. Barberio’s office at U Michigan Sparrow. Although U Michigan hospital records indicate that Dr. Barberio administered the injections, Dr. St. Claire later admitted during the divorce proceedings that he personally injected his wife.
Ms. Fameux was able to leave the marital home in January 2024. During the divorce case, psychiatrist Dr. Rita Aouad testified on her behalf that she is neither schizophrenic nor bipolar. A second psychiatrist, after evaluating Ms. Fameux, came to a similar conclusion. Given that there is no cure for schizophrenia, this testimony strongly indicates that she did not suffer from the condition during the period in which she was allegedly drugged by Dr. St. Claire and Dr. Barberio.
Ms. Fameux also alleged that injections were sometimes administered in the marital home, particularly when her husband was angry. In those instances, she claimed that Dr. Barberio was called to the home to administer injections as a form of punishment. Dr. St. Claire maintained notes documenting these visits.
In July 2024, five months after his termination, Dr. St. Claire filed a defamation lawsuit against me and Black Star News in Lansing, Michigan. During the divorce proceedings, he subsequently admitted to injecting his wife, consistent with my reporting. The case is pending.
On September 10, [2024], Ms. Fameux filed a police complaint alleging “poisoning” by Dr. St. Claire and Dr. Barberio. Dr. St. Claire declined to be interviewed by police, while Dr. Barberio was interviewed. Following a six-month investigation, on April 10, 2025, the Meridian Township Police in Okemos, Michigan, recommended that Dr. St. Claire be criminally prosecuted for domestic assault. However, the Ingham County Prosecutor, John Dewane, declined to issue a warrant and provided no explanation for this decision.
In the divorce case, the presiding judge, Carol N. Koenig, unlawfully upheld the JOSM. Under Michigan law, the court was required to appoint a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) for Ms. Fameux, which was never done. Judge Koenig decided to take matters into her own hands and fabricated the GAL. I have reported Judge Koenig’s conduct to local Lansing, Michigan authorities, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI.
Almost six months ago, on October 15, 2025 I filed a FOIA request seeking information related to the alleged poisoning of Ms. Fameux by Dr. St. Claire, Dr. Barberio, and other physicians who may have been involved. I also inquired about the outcome of U Michigan’s internal investigations into Ms. Fameux’s allegations and when—if ever—the university made a referral to law enforcement. There are several other requests in the FOIA. I also subsequently asked why the university was selectively transparent about Coach Moore’s termination but not Dr. St. Claire’s.
After first referring to the volume of information involved, the university informed me that I would receive the information in about 30 days and also asked that I pay the nominal required processing fee of $25, which I did; the university confirmed receipt in an email message from Shannon Hill, the FOIA officer, on December 4, 2025. When the 30 days expired, the university arbitrarily pushed the date several months down the line to March 2026; when that date arrived, the university again issued another arbitrary date.
The continued delay raises serious concerns. It suggests either a disregard for transparency and legal compliance or an unacceptable indifference to the gravity of the allegations involved. It is difficult not to question whether Ms. Fameux’s status as a Haitian immigrant has contributed to this apparent lack of urgency and accountability.
I respectfully request a professional, transparent, and timely response under your administration. I have also included links to several articles published in Black Star News documenting Ms. Fameux’s allegations and experiences.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Milton Allimadi
cc: Michigan University Board of Regents
Jordan B. Acker
Michael J. Behm
Mark J. Bernstein
Paul W. Brown
Sarah Hubbard
Denise Ilitch
Carl J. Meyers
Katherine E. White
U Michigan Health Sparrow Spokesperson:
Jon Foren
Links To Black Star News Articles:
Fabricated Justice? Michigan Court Relied on Phantom Guardian Ad Litem, Leaving Cassandra Fameux Unprotected
Nov 30, 2025 by Milton Allimadi
Police Recommend Charges Against Dr. Paul Gregory St. Claire, Former U. Michigan Health Sparrow Anesthesiologist Whose Wife Alleged “Illegal Drugging”
Sep 12, 2025 by Milton Allimadi
Lawyer of Dr. St. Claire, Michigan Anesthesiologist Who Injected Wife With Unprescribed Antipsychotic Drug Threatens Allimadi with New Lawsuit
Jan 26, 2025 by Black Star
Michigan Doctor Admits To Injecting His Wife With Unprescribed Antipsychotic Drugs; Yet, Sues Allimadi And Black Star News For Reporting The Same
Jan 8, 2025 by Milton Allimadi
Dr. Gregory St. Claire, Accused Of Sexual Harassment And Of Illegally Drugging Wife, Fired By U-Michigan Health-Sparrow
May 3, 2024 by Milton G. Allimadi
Michigan Woman Who Accused Anesthesiologist Husband Of “Drugging” Says She’s Being Held Against Will At Sparrow Hospital
Jan 31, 2024 by Milton G. Allimadi
U-Michigan Health-Sparrow Hospital Won’t Say If It Reported Alleged “Drugging” Of Wife By Doctor to Law Enforcement
Jan 25, 2024 by Milton G. Allimadi
Michigan: Anesthesiologist At Sparrow Hospital Survives Multiple Sexual Harassment Allegations
Nov 23, 2023 by Milton G. Allimadi
