Detroit Business Leader Faces Consequences as Hidden Scandal Comes to Light

A Michigan businessman, known for his penchant for cigars and an extravagant lifestyle, has seen his world unravel amidst accusations that his success was nothing but an illusion. Randon ‘Romero’ Williams, at the age of 40, made waves in the Greater Detroit area after establishing The Romero Group, a commercial and residential design-build firm, in 2017.

Williams resided in a sprawling $4 million mansion adorned with black onyx, reflecting a life of opulence. His collection included a $235,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith, and his spending habits were as lavish as they were public. He was unreserved with his wealth, reveling in luxury at every turn.

From enjoying sports events in exclusive private boxes to throwing extravagant birthday celebrations, Williams was no stranger to flaunting his riches. He frequently showcased his collection of chauffeured vehicles, high-end fashion, and ostentatious jewelry through professionally curated videos on social media platforms.

Despite his flamboyant lifestyle, Williams portrayed himself as a self-made entrepreneur, rising from modest beginnings as the son of a local pastor, now deceased, to a millionaire CEO. He crafted an image of a diligent Christian who transformed a middle-class upbringing into a story of remarkable achievement.

Williams, the son of a late local pastor, presented himself as a hardworking Christian who rose from a life of middle-class mediocrity to millionaire CEO.

But his rags-to-riches facade has come crashing down after he was arrested for wire fraud and money laundering earlier this month. He has not yet entered a plea.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigators allege that Williams fraudulently acquired $5.2 million in coronavirus relief aid, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Daily Mail.

He applied for Paycheck Protection Program loans through his construction and property development firm The Romero Group.

Randon ‘Romero’ Williams, 40, has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering after he allegedly stole $5.2 million from the federal government

Williams used funds fraudulently acquired through the Paycheck Protection Program to splash out on a $2.4 million mansion in the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills, prosecutors said. The home is currently listed for sale for $4 million

The sprawling 8,429 square-foot estate features a marble and onyx foyer, five bedrooms, five spa-like bathrooms and a movie theater decorated with a bed and a Star Wars stormtrooper

But instead of using the funds to keep his company afloat, Williams balled out on a Rolls-Royce and his mansion in Bloomfield Hills, the court filing said.

He spent the funds on luxury clothes, dining, rented yachts, home furnishings, and credit card bills, and paid himself a salary of over $1.7 million, investigators alleged.

He also paid more than $376,000 to three people who appear to be his relatives or close associates, the complaint said.

Williams allegedly submitted six fake loan applications under various business names, including The Romero Group and Step Ladder Construction, between April 2020 and March 2021, prosecutors said.

Some of his businesses allegedly only existed on paper, while others had significantly inflated business records, according to the complaint. 

Prosecutors, citing bank records and state and federal forms, said Williams submitted falsified tax documents and ‘fabricated or misrepresented the number of employees and the average monthly payroll expenses at each business.’

He allegedly reported having payroll expenses exceeding $500,000 and having employed between 21 and 75 people as independent contractors.

But investigators alleged that none of those employees had been hired prior to January 1, 2020, the complaint said.

He watched sporting events from private boxes, hosted over the top birthday parties and flaunted his chauffeured cars, designer clothes and gaudy jewels in professionally produced videos on social media. He is seen in a suite at a Detroit Tigers game in September 2021

Williams at his 35th birthday party in July 2020, alongside his sister Kyra and brothers Rachard and Raphael, thrown at a time the government accuses Williams of submitting fake loan applications

Williams allegedly spent fraudulently obtained government funds to buy himself a $235,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith. His sister Kyra with a Rolls Royce in a Facebook caption thanking Williams, their other brothers and their father for providing her ‘access’ to a life of ‘nice cars’; Kyra has not been implicated in any crimes

‘I did not see any transactions that appeared to be payroll,’ IRS Special Agent Annamarie Korte wrote in the complaint, alleging the loans were instead used for ‘personal benefit.’

The CEO’s father Bishop Raphael Williams Sr, pictured, gave him his first job in construction. Williams said the late pastor only paid him $200 to flip a bathroom, when the going rate was $5,000 

‘The funds transferred to Williams appear to have gone to support his personal spending, including towards peer-to-peer transfers, towards payments to American Express for exotic and luxury car rentals, clothing, dining, and rent payments on his apartment,’ she added.

Eight other people received a collective $18,784 in payments, despite none of them being listed as employees at The Romero Group, the filing said.

The Romero Group never filed a state or federal income tax return from 2018 to 2024, the IRS alleged in the complaint.

Step Ladder failed to file any state returns during the same period. The only federal return filed by the company was for 2018, reporting a quarterly wages paid to employees totaling only $11,146.25 from July to September that year.

Meanwhile, Williams claimed his business was booming.

He received an award from the Native Detroiter Magazine for his service to the community in November 2022, a friend’s social media post revealed. Williams was honored for his ‘honesty, integrity and excellent leadership.’

And just last April he was featured in a video on the Official BIG CEO TV YouTube page, where he offered a tour of his home.

He walked the hosts through the sprawling 8,429 square-foot estate which features a marble and onyx foyer, five bedrooms, five spa-like bathrooms and a movie theater that was once decorated with a bed and a Star Wars stormtrooper.

The CEO’s former partner Desiree Dyer, a human capital strategist, took him to court last year after he failed to pay child support. Court filings reveal that a judge in February 2025 determined that Williams failed to meet his financial obligations to Dyer

Williams often flaunted his wealth on social media. He is seen in two clips he posted to his YouTube page in 2022 bragging about how he is ‘richer’ than millionaires and rappers

Williams told the host how he grew up in a two-parent home and attended Grand Valley State University on a sports scholarship, as he showed off his massive marble dining table.

But he got injured and lost his scholarship, so he started working for his father on construction projects. 

He alleged that he drove a ‘beat up truck’ and that his father only paid him $200 to flip a bathroom, when the going rate was $5,000.

‘I never knew that my skill and talent would take me to the levels I am today,’ he said, before turning the discussion to his faith and the benefit of a two-parent households.

He shared an anecdote about his son trying to commandeer his seat at the head of the dining table.

However, Williams neglected to mention how his former partner Desiree Dyer, a human capital strategist, had taken him to court just months prior after he failed to pay child support.

Court filings obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that in February 2025, a judge determined that Williams failed to meet his financial obligations to Dyer.

A third-party attorney was appointed to oversee the liquidation of his assets. 

The Romero Group website promotes the company as a ‘design-build construction firm that offers both commercial and residential development and construction’ to the Greater Detroit area for ‘nearly 15 years.’ Business records show the firm was founded in 2017

The mansion, which he purchased for $2.4 million in 2021, is currently listed for sale for $4 million.

Williams’s financial problems appear to be ongoing as he is currently be represented by a court-appointed public defender in his COVID-related fraud case.

He was released from jail earlier on a $10,000 unsecured bond. His preliminary exam hearing is scheduled for April 30.

In addition to the federal fraud charges, American Express filed a civil suit against Williams in January 2024 alleging that he failed to pay back $137,065 on his business credit cards. Williams was found liable in that case.

The Daily Mail has approached Williams’ attorney for comment.