Bernard Kilpatrick’s defense lawyer launched a cross-examination of a Cobo Center contractor who was allegedly extorted by the mayor’s father.
Defense lawyer John Shea pressed Karl Kado about his conviction on a tax charge and cooperation with federal agents probing City Hall corruption.
Ex-Cobo Center Director Lou Pavledes.
The cross-examination followed three hours of testimony from Kado about allegedly paying Kilpatrick almost $300,000 in bribes.
Shea opened the cross-examination about illegal payments Kado made to two former Cobo directors — Lou Pavledes and Glenn Blanton.
Shea questioned Kado about Pavledes letting Kado open a temporary store inside Cobo in 1997.
“Is it true that after that, you took Lou Pavledes a sack that had $20,000 cash in it?” Shea asked.
“No,” Kado said.
Former Cobo Center Director Glenn Blanton.
“That’s not true?” Shea asked.
“No,” Kado said.
Pavledes admitted taking bribes from Kado and was sentenced to 14 months in prison for a banking offense. Blanton also admitted taking illegal payments from Kado was sentenced to one year for obstruction of justice.
Kado, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to a tax charge, was sentenced to three years’ probation in 2010, and avoided going to prison.
His cooperation has led to convictions of at least 10 people during a years-long FBI probe of City Hall corruption.