public corruption

Romulus Police Chief resigns; calls for mayor's resignation, too

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:33:27 +0000

Romulus Police Chief Robert Dickerson has resigned his job.

He did so in a scathing letter in which he also called on Romulus’s mayor, Alan Lambert, to resign.

An historic week in Detroit (not in a good way)

Sarah Cwiek — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 03:47:50 +0000

In a weird twist of fate, two remarkable events in Detroit’s recent history are happening at virtually the same time.

Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was convicted of multiple federal corruption charges Monday. And Governor Snyder is expected to appoint an emergency financial manager within days.

The timing is a coincidence, but there’s some connection between the two events—and a lot of symbolism.

Federal prison isn't former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's only concern

Steve Carmody — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:54:01 +0000

Kwame Kilpatrick’s federal racketeering and extortion convictions may mean the former Detroit mayor will not be able to pay the city approximately $850,000 in restitution in another case.

Monday, Kwame Kilpatrick was convicted on more than 20 counts of racketeering. extortion and other charges. The former mayor faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

In 2008, Kilpatrick agreed to pay a million dollars in restitution as part of a guilty plea to state obstruction of justice charges. He also served time in prison.

Former Highland Park emergency financial manager headed for 2013 trial

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 21:59:37 +0000

After years of legal wrangling, Highland Park’s former emergency financial manager will go on trial for alleged embezzlement next year.

A Michigan Supreme Court ruling this week reinstated charges against Arthur Blackwell III.

Blackwell was emergency financial manager from 2005-2008. He’s accused of writing himself $264,000 in checks from city funds.

Government: Kilpatrick government rife with "extortion, bribery, fraud"

Sarah Cwiek — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 02:58:20 +0000

Day one of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s federal public corruption trial wrapped up Friday.

The government says Kilpatrick and his three co-defendants were part of a conspiracy to commit “extortion, bribery, and fraud.”

US Attorney Mark Chutkow began opening arguments with excerpts of text messages between Kwame Kilpatrick and his co-defendant, longtime friend Bobby Ferguson.

Some of those messages read: “It’s my time to get paid” and “No deal without me.” Federal prosecutors say that sums up the so-called “Kilpatrick Enterprise.”

Opening arguments in Kwame Kilpatrick's federal corruption case Friday

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:29:38 +0000

A jury will hear opening arguments Friday in former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s public corruption trial.

Kilpatrick is on trial with his father, Bernard; longtime friend and former city contractor Bobby Ferguson; and former Detroit water department chief Victor Mercado.

The federal government alleges the four men formed a kind of criminal gang—the so-called “Kilpatrick Enterprise.”

Jury seated for Kwame Kilpatrick's corruption trial

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:52:59 +0000

A jury has been seated in the upcoming corruption trial of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his three co-defendants.

The jury’s racial make-up was a major point of contention during jury selection.

Kilpatrick’s lawyers have argued that a lack of African Americans in the jury pool hurts the ex-Mayor’s chances of a fair trial.

Kwame Kilpatrick's federal corruption trial underway in Detroit

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:57:41 +0000

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s public corruption trial officially started in federal court Thursday.

Kilpatrick, his father Bernard Kilpatrick, longtime friend and former city contractor Bobby Ferguson, and former water department head Victor Mercado are on trial together.

FBI launches anti-public corruption task force in Detroit

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:35:10 +0000

The FBI is pulling together a multi-agency task force fight public corruption in the Detroit area.

The task force will include several federal agencies, federal prosecutors, the Michigan Attorney General, the Michigan State Police, and Detroit Police.

It’s no secret that public corruption is a major problem in our community," said Detroit US Attorney Barbara McQuade.

7 charged in Romulus police corruption scandal

Sarah Cwiek — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:26:03 +0000

The Detroit suburb of Romulus is at the center of a massive police corruption scandal that includes the city’s ex-police chief.

Officials say in 2008, a “highly placed” Romulus police official asked Michigan State Police to investigate corruption allegations within the department.