Following Kilpatrick Verdict, Ex-Mayor Sent Immediately To Jail
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) After a morning where he appeared visibly shaken over a guilty verdict on 24 different felony counts related to corruption, racketeering, bribery and extortion -- Detroit's ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was back in court again Monday afternoon.
This time, he lost his freedom.
Kilpatrick and co-defendants Bernard Kilpatrick and Bobby Ferguson were back in federal court on a bond hearing to determine if their bond would be revoked and they would be immediately remanded to jail or if they could remain free until sentencing. Several of the charges -- including racketeering -- carry a possible penalty of 20 years in prison.
The judge chose the first option, sending Ferguson and Kwame Kilpatrick straight to jail.
Prosecutor Michael Bullotta argued Kilpatrick had a problem obeying orders and belonged behind bars. With his access to money, Kilpatrick is a flight risk, the prosecutor argued.
Defense attorney Jim Thomas argued Kilpatrick has a family in Texas, including his wife and three young sons, and was not a flight risk. "He's not a danger to the community," Thomas said.
Bobby Ferguson's attorney argued he also is not a flight risk.
The judge exited at 2:30 p.m., after about a half hour or arguments on both sides, and said she needed a few minutes to think about it. She returned and outlined their past felony convictions and access to cash -- and ruled that Ferguson and Kilpatrick had to go straight to jail. Bernard Kilpatrick remained free.
U.S. marshals took them immediately into custody.
City Corruption Tally (pdf format)
Kilpatrick Verdict (pdf format)
