Judge Says Kilpatrick Corruption Conviction Sticks
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A federal judge has refused to acquit or grant new trials to former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, his father and a city contractor.
The decision clears the way for Kilpatrick's sentence for corruption on Sept. 3.
Kilpatrick and Bobby Ferguson were convicted in March of a sweeping scheme to enrich themselves through fixed contracts, bribes and kickbacks. Kilpatrick's father, Bernard, was convicted of a tax crime.
Kwame Kilpatrick and Ferguson, an old friend, have been in custody since being found guilty in March.
They appeared in court Thursday.
"They both had full beards, they were a lot lighter — and, of course, they were wearing their grayish prison clothes," reported WWJ's Charlie Langton.
Kwame Kilpatrick's new attorney, Harold Gurewitz, told Judge Nancy Edmunds, that his former attorney, Jim Thomas, had a conflict of interest because Thomas' law firm had represented a contractor that was suing the ex-mayor.
"But that was an old argument, and Judge Edmunds denied that argument," Langton said.
Ferguson will be sentenced on Sept. 4. A sentencing date for the elder Kilpatrick has not been set.
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