Lawyer James C. Thomas and Kwame Kilpatrick outside federal court.
The Detroit Water department was riddled with self-dealing engineers who tried to steer contracts to favored firms and leaked inside information to pals, a city official testified.
Water department Deputy Director Darryl Latimer talked about cozy ties that existed long before federal prosecutors accused ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and pal Bobby Ferguson of corrupting the department.
When Victor Mercado — who recently pleaded guilty in the corruption case — took over in 2002, he tried to clean up the department, Latimer said.
“Would you agree that engineers leaked information to contractors and gave them an unfair advantage prior to contracts being publicized and released?” Ferguson lawyer Michael Rataj asked.
“Correct,” Latimer said.
Bobby Ferguson
“Would you agree that prior to Mr. Kilpatrick being mayor, certain engineers tried to steer contracts to favorite contractors?” Rataj asked.
“Correct,” Latimer said.
For example, former Detroit Water boss Charlie Beckham was indicted in the early 1980s amid a sludge-hauling scandal.
Beckham served two years in federal prison after he was found guilty of taking $16,000 from a sludge-hauling company named Vista.
Rataj also tried to combat Ferguson’s image as a violent contractor who threatened and extorted rival firms and capitalized on his friendship with Kilpatrick.
“He never threatened you in any way shape or form?” Rataj said.
“Never,” Latimer said.
“He never said if I don’t get paid I’m going to the mayor?” Rataj asked.
“No,” Latimer said.