Jurors watched video Friday of an FBI agent smuggling $90,000 through airport security in a test aimed at combating defense claims about a Kilpatrick bagman. The video was a highlight of testimony Friday, which also featured racially charged text messages sent between contractor Bobby Ferguson and his co-defendant in the City Hall corruption trial, ex-Mayor … Continue Reading →
Bernard Kilpatrick reaped millions during his son’s tenure, was a heavy-duty gambler and a tax cheat, according to testimony Thursday in the City Hall corruption trial. The trial returned from a 12-day Christmas break with a detailed examination of Kilpatrick’s finances and spending habits, which included big bills at an area liquor shop and gambling … Continue Reading →
A former Kwame Kilpatrick aide testified that he felt forced to pay kickbacks to Bernard Kilpatrick in return for getting a $30 million investment from two city pension funds. Marc Andre Cunningham, who faces up to 37 months for his role in the alleged bribery scheme, said he gave Bernard Kilpatrick roughly $15,000 in cash. … Continue Reading →
Defense lawyers tried chipping away at a government witness Thursday who testified about extortion claims and alleged strong-arm tactics involving ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and close friend Bobby Ferguson. Ferguson’s lawyer caught witness Bernard Parker in one lie, quoted a powerful businessman’s unsavory view of Parker and accused him of lavishing pricey gifts on city officials. … Continue Reading →
A politically-connected business consultant spent more than three hours Wednesday testifying about alleged extortion demands made by contractor Bobby Ferguson. The testimony from Bernard Parker III marked a profane and dramatic shift in the trial back to Detroit Water and Sewerage Department deals allegedly corrupted by Ferguson and his close pal, ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Bernard … Continue Reading →
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 … Continue Reading →
Jurors on Monday heard how a city agency stocked with relatives, friends and close associates of Kwame Kilpatrick awarded a $7 million deal to the mayor’s pal Bobby Ferguson despite low scores during the bidding process. Prosecutors on Monday also questioned a Southfield custom-suit maker about the mayor’s expensive tastes in hand-made suits, which allegedly … Continue Reading →
A contractor testified Friday he landed a $7 million city deal after buying suits for Kwame Kilpatrick and donating $10,000 to the mayor’s nonprofit group. Johnson Akinwusi was the latest in a long line of contractors to testify they gave cash or valuable items to the Detroit mayor to secure or obtain city deals. Under … Continue Reading →
Kwame Kilpatrick continued to make news outside of court Thursday while his corruption trial bogged down amid testimony from a federal agent. Kilpatrick was sued by a contractor who called himself a victim of the alleged racketeering scheme at the heart of the City Hall corruption case. Meanwhile, U.S. EPA Special Agent Carol Paszkiewicz spent … Continue Reading →
A day short on drama included a scoop that was never addressed. With federal prosecutors set to add new allegations to their claims against former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, they said they’d be talking about a recreation center in Detroit. However, after adding new text messages to their list of evidence, they never got around to … Continue Reading →