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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Kwame Kilpatrick|Indicted Again

DETROIT (CN) - Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, his father and three others are accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes, in a 38-count criminal RICO indictment. Kilpatrick, already in prison, also is accused of using his campaign funds to hide, "among other things, perjury, witness tampering and obstruction of justice."

Indicted with Kilpatrick were Bobby Ferguson, who ran two companies that got city contracts; Mayor Kilpatrick's father, Bernard Kilpatrick, owner of Maestro Associates "a purported consulting company ... which was paid by clients who sought contracts, subcontracts or investments with the city and its pension funds;" Victor Mercado, former director of the city Water and Sewerage Department, who oversaw the awarding of more than $2 billion in contracts; and Derrick Miller, who was deputy chief of staff to Kilpatrick when he was a state representative, and then worked for him when Kilpatrick was mayor.

The defendants face a slew of allegations, including RICO conspiracy, bribery, extortion, mail fraud, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.

All the defendants could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Fourteen others, including former City Council President Monica Conyers, have pleaded guilty to related felonies.

Kwame Kilpatrick, 40, is serving 5 years for violating probation. He pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and resigned as mayor in 2008, after being accused of agreeing to an $8.5 million settlement with police officers he fired to try to stop them from revealing his extramarital affair with his chief of staff.

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