March 11, 2013

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was convicted Monday on a raft of corruption charges, ensuring a trip back to prison for the notoriously scandal-ridden politician. Jurors convicted Kilpatrick on charges including racketeering and conspiracy, following a five-month trial that detailed how he accepted bribes, rigged contracts, and ran a “private profit machine” while in office until fall 2008. Among the most damning allegations: he used a nonprofit fund that was supposed to benefit Detroit’s most in-need residents to pay for his own yoga lessons, golf clubs, and camp for his children.

From the Detroit Free Press:

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his friend Bobby Ferguson removed their suit coats. Then their ties and jewelry came off in U.S. District Court this afternoon. Kilpatrick handed his driver’s license to his mother. The men, who were now handcuffed, were led out of the courtroom shortly after U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds ordered them into federal custody pending sentencing on racketeering and bribery and extortion convictions handed down earlier today in the public corruption case.

"Stay strong," Kilpatrick tells sobbing family members as he's handcuffed, led away.

Full list of criminal charges and convictions below the fold and an in-depth report and analysis here.

Via the Detroit Free Press:

Kwame Kilpatrick: Guilty, 24 of 30 counts

Guilty
Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy, 20-year max
Count 2: Extortion, sewer lining contract 10-year max
Count 3: Extortion, amendment to sewer lining contract 10-year max
Count 4: Extortion, Baby Creek/Patton Park 10-year max
Count 5: Extortion, Oakwood pump station 10-year max
Count 9: Extortion, east side Ware mains 10-year max
Count 17: Bribery, $75,000 bribe 10-year max
Counts 18-26: Mail fraud involving Civic Fund, 20-year-max
Count 28: Wire fraud involving Civic Fund, 20-year-max
Count 30: Wire fraud involving Civic Fund, 20-year max
Counts 31-35: Filing false taxes, 3-year max
Count 36: Tax evasion, 5-year max

Not guilty
Count 10: Extortion, east side sewer repair
Count 27: Mail fraud
Count 29: Wire fraud involving civic fund

No verdict
Count 7: Extortion, Outfalls contract
Count 8: Extortion, asbestos abatement
Count 16: Bribery, $90,000 bribe youth programs

Bobby Ferguson: Guilty, 9 of 11 counts

Guilty
Count 1: RICO, 20-year max
Count 2: Extortion, sewer lining contract, 10-year max
Count 3: Extortion, amendment to sewer lining contract 10-year max
Count 4: Extortion, Baby Creek/Patton Park 10-year max
Count 5: Extortion, Oakwood pump station 10-year max
Count 7: Extortion, Outfalls contract 10-year max
Count 8: Extortion, asbestos abatement, 10-year max
Count 9: Extortion, east side Ware mains 10-year max
Count 17: Bribery, $75,000 bribe, 10-year max

Not guilty
Count 10: Extortion, east side sewer repair

No verdict
Count 16: Bribery, $90,000 bribe, youth p[r]ograms

Bernard Kilpatrick: Guilty, 1 of 4 counts

Guilty
Count 38: Filing false taxes, 3-year max

Not guilty
Count 15: Extortion, sludge contract
Count 37: Filing false taxes,

No verdict
Count 1: RICO

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