Former Detroit Mayor Convicted

It's been over two years since <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/content/large-contracts-bid-rigging-and-pensi…; target="”_blank”">I
wrote</a> about the indictments of former Detroit mayor Kwame
Kilpatrick, his father, and a city contractor. This morning,
according to <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130311/NEWS0102/303110133/Kwame-Kilpatri…; target="”_blank”">an
article in the Detroit <i>Free Press</i></a>, the jury entered its
verdicts. Kilpatrick was convicted on 24 of 30 counts, including
five counts of extortion, racketeering, bribery and several mail,
wire and tax fraud charges. The contractor was found guilty on nine
of 11 counts, including racketeering and several counts of
extortion. <br>
<br>

The <i>Free Press</i> article says, "The defendants were accused of, among
other things, shaking down contractors and rigging bids to help
steer lucrative contracts to Ferguson. Prosecutors said the
philosophy of the enterprise was simple: If you wanted work in the
city of Detroit, you either had to hire Ferguson, or in some cases,
hire the mayor’s father as a consultant."<br>
<br>
It also says that the mayor abused a nonprofit he set up, using it as
"a personal piggy bank." Yes, another case of nonprofit abuse.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
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