Kilpatrick Caught Counting $2,000 In Cash At Walmart
DETROIT (WWJ) - There's buzz in Detroit on Tuesday that ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick could be arrested on a parole violation.
The Michigan Department of Corrections is investigating a Walmart security tape that shows Kilpatrick counting out $2,000 in cash last month.
In an email to WWJ Newsradio 950, Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said Kilpatrick failed to report the money as income and not doing that could be a parole violation.
He said they believe Kilpatrick accepted a money gram from a pastor in Chicago.
"He received this money at a Walmart in Chesterfield Township on December 11 2012," said Marlan. "Kilpatrick reported no income and no gifts for the month of December to his parole officer. We are still investigating, but yes, any sustained parole violation could lead to a return to prison."
A Fox TV affiliate in Chicago is reporting pastor Corey Brooks, who wired the money, said it was a Christmas gift in response to a plea from Kilpatrick for financial help. It is not being alleged that Brooks did anything illegal by sending the money.
In a Facebook post, Kilpatrick seemed to acknowledged receiving the cash, "Sending a big THANK YOU to Pastor @CoreyBBrooks and The New Beginnings Church Family in Chicago. Carlita & I are humbled by your generosity," Kilpatrick wrote.
Kilpatrick still owes Detroit more than $800,000 in restitution from a 2008 plea in a criminal case. He lost his job and served state prison time for lying on the state about his affair with an aide.
He is currently in trial in Detroit federal court in a separate case, charged with fraud, bribery, tax crimes and a racketeering conspiracy.
Reporting from the court-house Tuesday morning, WWJ Legal Analyst Charlie Langton said there's talk that Kilpatrick could be arrested in connection with the wired funds.
"When you're on probation like Kwame Kilpatrick is, you must tell and disclose any bit of money that he gets -- whether it's a gift, whether it's income," Langton said. "If you don't disclose the money you get, that violates your probation and the remedy is you go right back to prison; and this is a very serious charge, assuming these allegations are true."
The former mayor's father, Bernard Kilpatrick and Detroit contractor Bobby Ferguson are also on trial. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty. Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for continuing coverage. (Catch up on this story).
