Jury Will Head Into 3rd Full Week Of Deliberations In Federal Corruption Trial
DETROIT (WWJ) - Another week has passed with no verdict in the Detroit City Hall corruption trial.
WWJ's Vickie Thomas reports from Federal Court that many observers thought today would be the day for the verdict for the ex-mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick, his father Bernard Kilpatrick and contractor Bobby Ferguson.
While no one but the jury knows when the verdict will be announced - many think that there is usually one day of deliberation for each week of testimony. So, if that theory holds true - Day 14 would have been the day the verdict came down.
One hitch with that theory is that the jury left early a few times so Monday could be the day for the decision.
Kwame Kilpatrick, Bernard Kilpatrick and Ferguson are facing more than 30 charges of federal mail and tax fraud, extortion, bribery and racketeering. Ferguson was the only one without tax fraud charges.
Prosecutors said Ferguson made more than $80 million while Kilpatrick was in office with schemes hatched between himself and the mayor, showing stacks and stacks of cash he had hidden in his home and office.
Ferguson's defense Gerald Evelyn described Ferguson as a hard-working minority businessman who employed Detroiters.
