Kwame Kilpatrick guilty on 24 counts; Bobby Ferguson on 9

Detroit — Jurors convicted former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and contractor Bobby Ferguson of federal racketeering and other charges, but only convicted Kilpatrick's father Bernard on one tax charge.

As the verdicts were read, Kilpatrick hung his head at the defendant's table. He looked around the courtroom, resting his chin on his right hand as the jurors filed out.

The former mayor was found guilty on 24 counts, including racketeering, not guilty on three counts and received no verdict on three. Ferguson was found guilty of racketeering, extortion and bribery. A hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday to decide if Kilpatrick will be sent to prison immediately.

Bernard Kilpatrick, who was found guilty on only one tax charge, sobbed upon hearing his son's conviction. On his way from the courthouse, he said he feels: "Terrible." Regarding the jury's verdict, he said they "absolutely" got it wrong. U.S. Attorney for Detroit Barbara McQuade said prosecutors will not retry the elder Kilpatrick on racketeering and conspiracy charges.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing issued a statement following the verdict, saying: "I am pleased that this long trial has ended and we can finally put this negative chapter in Detroit's history behind us. It is time for all of us to move forward with a renewed commitment to transparency and high ethical standards in our City government."

The eight-woman, four-man jury, which included five blacks and a Hispanic, spent nearly two weeks deliberating before convicting Kilpatrick of charges that dogged him for years and could send him to prison for two decades. The panel reached a verdict on 40 of 45 total counts. Among the counts jurors could not decide were bribery charges for Kilpatrick.

Following the verdict, jurors met with reporters, but were not identified. A male juror said: "There was not one piece of evidence that sealed the deal. We looked at everything."

Kilpatrick was the biggest target of a years-long City Hall corruption probe that netted convictions of two dozen people, including several of his closest friends and former City Councilwoman Monica Conyers. Roughly 90 witnesses appeared in what became one of largest public corruption cases in decades.

Kilpatrick arrived at the courthouse at 10:09 a.m., exiting a white Buick LaCross with a vanity plate that read "RUB." He wore a black blazer and gray trousers and declined to answer any questions on his way into the building.

Ferguson, on his way into court Monday morning, smiled and said: "I feel great. God is good."

The government portrayed Kilpatrick's public career as a decade-long criminal racket that wrongly steered $84 million in city contracts to Ferguson, who then shared a good chunk of the proceeds with the former mayor. Defense lawyers, however, attacked the credibility of government witnesses, including several felons who struck plea deals throughout the City Hall corruption probe.

Throughout the trial, witnesses and the defendants' own words — captured in text messages seized by investigators — portrayed a City Hall hell-bent on making sure Ferguson got a huge cut of multimillion contracts, stepping on fellow minority contractors in the process.

The charges against Kilpatrick detail a 10-year criminal racket involving bribery, extortion, fraud and tax evasion that started began when he was a state legislator and ended as he was leaving the Manoogian Mansion in shame.

The crimes were allegedly aided by insiders, including Kilpatrick childhood friend turned government witness Derrick Miller.

Kilpatrick was accused of heading a criminal enterprise involving Ferguson that robbed taxpayers of millions of dollars.

Prosecutors allege Kilpatrick and the other defendants forced contractors working for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to hire Ferguson's companies by threatening to cut them out of multimillion-dollar projects. According to prosecutors, the mayor's father Bernard Kilpatrick played a role as middleman and shared in the proceeds.

Prosecutors scoffed at a defense that sought to call Kwame Kilpatrick a civic-minded mayor and Ferguson a tough but honest minority contractor.

Instead, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Chutkow said they were a tag-team duo working to make money on Kilpatrick's extensive City Hall power.

Several surprises emerged during the prosecution's case.

Former Detroit Water boss Victor Mercado, who allegedly used his power to steer work to Ferguson, pleaded guilty in November, weeks into the trial, admitting he conspired with Kilpatrick to steer city contracts to Ferguson. However, Mercado did not cooperate with prosecutors and has not testified during the trial.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged Kilpatrick pocketed bribes from businessmen and money from Ferguson, whose companies reaped almost $125 million in revenue while his friend was in office.

Kilpatrick spent $841,000 more than he earned as Detroit mayor, according to testimony.

Defense lawyers countered that Kilpatrick merely received cash gifts from friends and associates and did not cheat on his taxes or file phony returns.

Ferguson's lawyers, meanwhile, alleged he won contracts through legal means designed to steer a portion of construction work to minority contractors.

The prosecution's case featured a range of evidence, including text messages, undercover FBI surveillance video and wiretapped phone conversations.

In one of the most dramatic moments, Kilpatrick's father was shown on an FBI video pocketing $2,500 from a sludge-hauling contractor who allegedly was paying bribes to win a $1.2 billion city deal. Prosecutors called it a bribe; Bernard Kilpatrick's attorney called it payment on an old debt.

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130...ty-40-45-counts

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During the trial, prosecutors alleged Kilpatrick pocketed bribes from businessmen and money from Ferguson, whose companies reaped almost $125 million in revenue while his friend was in office.

Kilpatrick spent $841,000 more than he earned as Detroit mayor, according to testimony.

In one of the most dramatic moments, Kilpatrick's father was shown on an FBI video pocketing $2,500 from a sludge-hauling contractor who allegedly was paying bribes to win a $1.2 billion city deal. Prosecutors called it a bribe; Bernard Kilpatrick's attorney called it payment on an old debt.

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And there is the whole story WHY the city is on the brink of bankruptcy !!
I hope Kilpatrick & Ferguson ...never see the light of day !!