Jurors viewed potentially damaging text messages Tuesday indicating contractor Bobby Ferguson had inside information about a $7 million city deal thanks to Kwame Kilpatrick’s mistress Christine Beatty.
Texts dominated a day focused on Ferguson, the ex-mayor’s close pal and co-defendant, who allegedly bought expensive suits for a high-ranking official in the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department. That’s the same agency for which Ferguson built a $7 million community center, according to testimony Tuesday.
Prosecutors solicited testimony to address a main point in the City Hall corruption case.
That testimony came from Detroit’s former chief financial officer, who said Kilpatrick ordered underlings to steer work to Ferguson.
A Detroit News investigation in 2008 showed Ferguson firms received at least $170 million in city contracts since the mayor took office in 2002.
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Please read below for an archived view of this event.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, left, walks with Bobby Ferguson as abandoned homes are torn down in Detroit in 2002.
Kwame Kilpatrick ordered members of his cabinet to steer work to “my guy,” contractor Bobby Ferguson, a former city official testified Tuesday.
Sean Werdlow, the city’s former chief financial officer, said Kilpatrick made the demand several times during cabinet meetings.
Werdlow’s testimony addressed a key allegation in the City Hall corruption case, which alleges Ferguson pocketed approximately $60 million in city deals because of his friendship with Kilpatrick — sometimes for doing no work at all.
“From time to time a project would come up and he would say ‘give it to someone we know, like my guy Bobby,’” Werdlow testified. “He would definitely show support for Bobby.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Doeh
Ferguson’s name would come up during preparations for the 2006 Super Bowl in Detroit and other projects, Werdlow testified.
“Did the mayor…make the same comments of other contractors?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Doeh asked.
“He probably did over time. I can’t recall any,” Werdlow said.
“Were these jobs that would need bids?” Doeh asked.
“In most cases, yes,” Werdlow said.
Bobby Ferguson
Bobby Ferguson bought $3,360 worth of custom-made suits for a high-ranking city official in the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department, the same agency for which Ferguson built a $7 million community center, according to testimony Tuesday.
FBI Special Agent Robert Beeckman read text messages exchanged between Ferguson and city official Vincent Anwunah. The texts revealed Ferguson bought clothes in 2003 for Lee Stephenson, the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
At the time, Ferguson had valuable contracts to build Heilmann Recreation Center and another deal involving Patton Park in southwest Detroit.
The texts reveal a lavish shopping spree at Nick the Tailor on Clifford Street in downtown Detroit.
“He can pick up the (suit) of his choice and I will pay for the rest Monday,” Ferguson wrote in one text.
The spree cost Ferguson $3,360, according to testimony.
Ferguson’s lawyer Gerald Evelyn didn’t challenge the testimony during cross-examination.
Bobby Ferguson
Bobby Ferguson and Kwame Kilpatrick’s mistress/Chief of Staff Christine Beatty traded texts about a $7 million Heilmann recreation department project before the city awarded the deal.
Christine Beatty
FBI Special Agent Robert Beeckman red the text messages Tuesday in a bid to show Kilpatrick’s close friend had special access to city officials.
“Need to see you for 5 mins, when is that possible maam?” Ferguson texted Beatty on June 10, 2003.
“Thursday or Friday would be good,” Beatty replied.
“OK, I hope you havnt (sic) met with Mrs. Benson yes,” Ferguson said, referring to the head of the Detroit Building Authority, Kilpatrick’s cousin Elizabeth Benson.
“No, I haven’t,” Beatty replied.
“Good,” Ferguson said.
Bids were opened June 19, 2003.
One day earlier, Ferguson traded texts with city official Vincent Anwunah about the bids.
“Congratulations for tomorrow,” Anwunah said to Ferguson.
“Ok, what happen…” Ferguson wrote.
“Your team got Heilmann,” Anwunah wrote.
“Yeah, I know,” Ferguson wrote.
After bids were opened, and Ferguson’s firm won the $7 million deal, Ferguson thanked Beatty.
“Thank you, I love you, you are for s(sure) my sister,” Ferguson wrote.
Bobby Ferguson outside federal court.
A civil servant who felt threatened by contractor Bobby Ferguson was not in danger of losing her job, the contractor’s lawyer said Tuesday.
Ferguson attorney Gerald Evelyn tried to counter testimony a day earlier from city employee LaJuan Wilks, who told jurors the mayor’s close friend threatened her job.
Wilks said she felt attacked and feared Ferguson would pull strings to get her fired after she raised concerns about his company’s work on a $7 million Recreation Department deal.
Wilks’ fears were unjustified because, as a civil servant, she was protected from being fired unjustly, Evelyn said.
LaJuan Wilks
While cross-examining city employee Tyrone Clifton, Ferguson’s lawyer also tried to blunt testimony about his client’s combative personality.
Clifton talked to Wilks after she got into an argument with Ferguson.
“Did you tell her she had no reason to be concerned about her job?” Evelyn asked.
“Yes,” Clifton said.
“Did you tell her Mr. Ferguson is a guy who pops off at times?” the lawyer asked.
“I’m sure I probably verbalized that,” Clifton said.
“And that he can get loud with people and she shouldn’t be concerned about that, that that’s something he does?” Evelyn asked.
“Probably, yes,” Clifton said.
Kwame Kilpatrick with Hot Sam’s owner Tony Stovall, left.
So where does clothes horse Kwame Kilpatrick spend Monday night after hearing all day long about suits bought and paid for by a city contractor?
A Detroit clothing store.
Kilpatrick posted a Facebook photo late Monday of himself posing inside Hot Sam’s, a downtown clothing shop.
From Kilpatrick’s Facebook post:
Great seeing all my peeps over at Hot Sam’s Detroit. Tony & all the fellas are still keeping brothers tight.
Susan Van Dusen, left, seen with Kwame Kilpatrick, center, and Bobby Ferguson at the federal courthouse in August. (Steve Perez / The Detroit News)
Susan Van Dusen, the former mobster lawyer who is helping defend contractor Bobby Ferguson in the City Hall corruption case, returned to court Tuesday eight days after breaking her nose during a fall inside U.S. District Court.
Court spies said she looked good and the black bruises under her eyes have almost disappeared.
Live Updates Ended
Please read below for an archived view of this event.Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, left, walks with Bobby Ferguson as abandoned homes are torn down in Detroit in 2002.
Kwame Kilpatrick ordered members of his cabinet to steer work to “my guy,” contractor Bobby Ferguson, a former city official testified Tuesday.
Sean Werdlow, the city’s former chief financial officer, said Kilpatrick made the demand several times during cabinet meetings.
Werdlow’s testimony addressed a key allegation in the City Hall corruption case, which alleges Ferguson pocketed approximately $60 million in city deals because of his friendship with Kilpatrick — sometimes for doing no work at all.
“From time to time a project would come up and he would say ‘give it to someone we know, like my guy Bobby,’” Werdlow testified. “He would definitely show support for Bobby.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Doeh
Ferguson’s name would come up during preparations for the 2006 Super Bowl in Detroit and other projects, Werdlow testified.
“Did the mayor…make the same comments of other contractors?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Doeh asked.
“He probably did over time. I can’t recall any,” Werdlow said.
“Were these jobs that would need bids?” Doeh asked.
“In most cases, yes,” Werdlow said.
Bobby Ferguson
Bobby Ferguson bought $3,360 worth of custom-made suits for a high-ranking city official in the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department, the same agency for which Ferguson built a $7 million community center, according to testimony Tuesday.
FBI Special Agent Robert Beeckman read text messages exchanged between Ferguson and city official Vincent Anwunah. The texts revealed Ferguson bought clothes in 2003 for Lee Stephenson, the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
At the time, Ferguson had valuable contracts to build Heilmann Recreation Center and another deal involving Patton Park in southwest Detroit.
The texts reveal a lavish shopping spree at Nick the Tailor on Clifford Street in downtown Detroit.
“He can pick up the (suit) of his choice and I will pay for the rest Monday,” Ferguson wrote in one text.
The spree cost Ferguson $3,360, according to testimony.
Ferguson’s lawyer Gerald Evelyn didn’t challenge the testimony during cross-examination.
Bobby Ferguson
Bobby Ferguson and Kwame Kilpatrick’s mistress/Chief of Staff Christine Beatty traded texts about a $7 million Heilmann recreation department project before the city awarded the deal.
Christine Beatty
FBI Special Agent Robert Beeckman red the text messages Tuesday in a bid to show Kilpatrick’s close friend had special access to city officials.
“Need to see you for 5 mins, when is that possible maam?” Ferguson texted Beatty on June 10, 2003.
“Thursday or Friday would be good,” Beatty replied.
“OK, I hope you havnt (sic) met with Mrs. Benson yes,” Ferguson said, referring to the head of the Detroit Building Authority, Kilpatrick’s cousin Elizabeth Benson.
“No, I haven’t,” Beatty replied.
“Good,” Ferguson said.
Bids were opened June 19, 2003.
One day earlier, Ferguson traded texts with city official Vincent Anwunah about the bids.
“Congratulations for tomorrow,” Anwunah said to Ferguson.
“Ok, what happen…” Ferguson wrote.
“Your team got Heilmann,” Anwunah wrote.
“Yeah, I know,” Ferguson wrote.
After bids were opened, and Ferguson’s firm won the $7 million deal, Ferguson thanked Beatty.
“Thank you, I love you, you are for s(sure) my sister,” Ferguson wrote.
Bobby Ferguson outside federal court.
A civil servant who felt threatened by contractor Bobby Ferguson was not in danger of losing her job, the contractor’s lawyer said Tuesday.
Ferguson attorney Gerald Evelyn tried to counter testimony a day earlier from city employee LaJuan Wilks, who told jurors the mayor’s close friend threatened her job.
Wilks said she felt attacked and feared Ferguson would pull strings to get her fired after she raised concerns about his company’s work on a $7 million Recreation Department deal.
Wilks’ fears were unjustified because, as a civil servant, she was protected from being fired unjustly, Evelyn said.
LaJuan Wilks
While cross-examining city employee Tyrone Clifton, Ferguson’s lawyer also tried to blunt testimony about his client’s combative personality.
Clifton talked to Wilks after she got into an argument with Ferguson.
“Did you tell her she had no reason to be concerned about her job?” Evelyn asked.
“Yes,” Clifton said.
“Did you tell her Mr. Ferguson is a guy who pops off at times?” the lawyer asked.
“I’m sure I probably verbalized that,” Clifton said.
“And that he can get loud with people and she shouldn’t be concerned about that, that that’s something he does?” Evelyn asked.
“Probably, yes,” Clifton said.
Kwame Kilpatrick with Hot Sam’s owner Tony Stovall, left.
So where does clothes horse Kwame Kilpatrick spend Monday night after hearing all day long about suits bought and paid for by a city contractor?
A Detroit clothing store.
Kilpatrick posted a Facebook photo late Monday of himself posing inside Hot Sam’s, a downtown clothing shop.
From Kilpatrick’s Facebook post:
Great seeing all my peeps over at Hot Sam’s Detroit. Tony & all the fellas are still keeping brothers tight.
Susan Van Dusen, left, seen with Kwame Kilpatrick, center, and Bobby Ferguson at the federal courthouse in August. (Steve Perez / The Detroit News)
Susan Van Dusen, the former mobster lawyer who is helping defend contractor Bobby Ferguson in the City Hall corruption case, returned to court Tuesday eight days after breaking her nose during a fall inside U.S. District Court.
Court spies said she looked good and the black bruises under her eyes have almost disappeared.
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