Ex-mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick yesterday pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges. His father, Bernard Kilpatrick, and three other defendants also pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege that Kilpatrick, his father, a mayoral aide, the former head of the water department and a city contractor colluded to extort millions from contractors. Kilpatrick allegedly forced firms looking for city contracts to pay kickbacks, fly Kilpatrick and his friends around the country and/or hire his friend, Bobby Ferguson, as a subcontractor. Ferguson is one of the five defendants.
The charges include counts under the RICO act, which is usually used against members of organized crime syndicates. All five could face imprisonment.
If convicted on all 35 counts, Kilpatrick could face a prison sentence of up to 520 years or be ordered to pay up to tens of millions of dollars in fines.
Kilpatrick is already serving in federal prison after breaking the terms of his probation. The probation was part of his sentence for perjury charges stemming from an investigation into his administration.
For more on the long story of Mayor Kilpatrick, including those sexy texts, see here.
