Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick convicted of corruption & could face 20 years in jail

[pwaldo]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...92A0HV20130311

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, once seen as a rising star in Democratic Party politics, was convicted on Monday on two dozen federal charges of corruption and bribery during his seven-year tenure.

Prosecutors accused Kilpatrick, 42, of widespread corruption, extorting bribes from contractors who wanted to get or keep city contracts, and turning the mayor's office into "Kilpatrick Incorporated" from 2001 until he resigned in 2008.

Kilpatrick could face prison sentences of up to 20 years for the most serious charges for steering more than $83 million worth of municipal contracts to his friend Bobby Ferguson, a city contractor, who shared some of the money with the former mayor.

"Kwame Kilpatrick didn't lead the city. He looted the city," Barbara McQuade, the attorney in Detroit, told a news conference. "While Kwame Kilpatrick enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, he watched the quality of life erode for the people of Detroit."

Many people in Detroit believe Kilpatrick contributed to the decline of the city, home of the auto industry. The verdict was handed down as Detroit's financial crisis was nearing a new low, with Michigan state soon expected to appoint an emergency financial manager, a move that could lead to the biggest municipal bankruptcy in the United States.

[gladdyontherise]

The sad thing is he thinks he did nothing wrong and that "the man" (whoever that is suppose to be) was out to get him.

[angel0430]

Really sad when someone in that position thinks about personal gain and forgets why he was elected. Hopefully he will get the max sentence and no parole rights. This politicians need to learn.

[Wickabee]

Must have thought he was in Quebec.

[pwaldo]

Really sad when someone in that position thinks about personal gain and forgets why he was elected. Hopefully he will get the max sentence and no parole rights. This politicians need to learn.

It would probably be more of a punishment if they made the guy live in Detroit for 20 years. That place is a dump and it would be more dangerous for him and cheaper for the taxpayers than prison.

[MattDMC]

Like Gladdy said, He actually thinks he did no wrong! Hope he enjoys his next 20-30 years behind bars, the people at radio station 95.5 certainly hope he'll enjoy them!




The even sadder thing though living in Michigan we see this all the time, constant interviews of Detroit citizens show that people still support Kwame and still think he was a great mayor....REALLY? Sure not everyone the News interviews supports him but the amount that still do is baffling. The man Bankrupted the city worse than it already was to begin with and the people still...I don't know sometimes I just give up on this world and the idiots that inhabit it.