Star witness Derrick Miller said he fetched cash from a Cobo Center contractor and delivered the money twice to ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Karl Kado walks out of federal court on Monday in Detroit. (David Guralnick / The Detroit News)
The money came from Cobo contractor Karl Kado, who was convicted in a long-running FBI probe of City Hall corruption.
Miller, a former Kilpatrick aide who oversaw Cobo operations, testified he picked up money from Kado’s office in Cobo Center and delivered it to Kilpatrick.
“How much?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Chutkow asked.
“I didn’t count it, but you know, a lot of money. Five or $10,000,” Miller testified.
“Cash or check?” Chutkow asked.
“Cash,” Miller said. “In hundreds.
“It was wrong to take cash from a contractor that I was responsible for overseeing his operations,” Miller added.
Miller also said he collected money from Kado and kept it.
“He gave me, personally, cash,” Miller said. “He was constantly offering cash and I accepted a couple times.”
“Where did this occur?” Chutkow asked.
Cobo Center
“Cobo,” Miller said.
“How much?” the prosecutor asked.
“$10,000. In hundreds,” Miller said.
“These weren’t loans or anything like that?” Chutkow asked.
“No,” Miller said.
“So you never repaid it?” the prosecutor asked.
“No,” Miller said.
Kado also gave $10,000 to the Kilpatrick campaign in 2001, Miller testified.
The payoff happened at Cobo, Miller said.
Kado paid in cash, which Miller said violated rules.
“My understanding was we couldn’t accept cash for the campaign,” Miller said. “It had to be a money order or check.
“Did you get a receipt or documentation?” Chutkow asked.
“No,” Miller said.
Kado had lucrative contracts at Cobo and later cooperated with the FBI.