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Former Detroit Mayor found guilty of racketeering charges

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BY QUINN KLINEFELTER

A federal jury has found former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick guilty of racketeering. The verdict comes after a five month trial.

Prosecutors argued that Kilpatrcik ran Detroit's government like an organized crime syndicate, steering million sof taxpayers dollars to his friend, contractor Bobby Ferguson, taking kickbacks and using his father Bernard as a go-between.

All three were on trial, and the jury found the former mayor guilty of 24 of the 30 counts against him, convicted Ferguson of racketeering, extortion and bribery, but found Bernard Kilpatrick guilty of only one tax charge. 

Jurors said they reached their verdict late last Friday, but wanted the weekend to sleep on their decision before rendering it publicly.

The racketeering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.


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