Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s co-defendent and city contractor Bobby Ferguson was sentenced to 21 years in prison today after being convicted on racketeering, bribery and other charges.
The sentence comes one day after U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds sentenced Kilpatrick to 28 years in federal prison.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the prosecution also wanted 28 years for Ferguson:
According to the government, Ferguson received $127 million worth of city contracts while his friend was mayor, of which $73 million was awarded illegally. That translated into $9.6 million in illegal profits for Ferguson, who the government says then shared it with Kilpatrick. Ferguson’s attorneys have argued no evidence was produced during the trial showing he made $9.6 million in total profits off water and sewer contracts. Edmunds said this morning that she is going use the lower figure of $6.3 million for the purpose of determining Ferguson’s sentence.
- Melanie Kruvelis, Michigan Radio Newsroom
