Is this why ex-Detroit mayor Kilpatrick's on the lamb in Texas?

[Ajax]

www.examiner.com

Detroit 2003 murder investigation of stripper may get new legs
November 8, 7:50 PMSpokane Homicide ExaminerDoyle Wheeler
    
 

Detroit 2003 murder investigation of stripper may get new legs
Did corruption within police department in Detroit, the Mayor and perhaps as high as the state attorney general help cover-up a murder?

It certainly possible the former Chief of Police before this recently appointed chief, was under reporting homicides within the city by as many as 300 per year.
Corruption in Detroit and Chicago are legendary within the police departments and Mayor's offices.

Did Manoogian Mansion tapes vanish from an evidence locker of the Detroit police department as testified to by a Michigan State Police Sergeant?

Sergeant Krebs along with two other highly experience investigator was assigned to look into the possible connection between a stripper Tamara Greene, who became a murder victim from a drive by shooting. Who it had been rumored was beaten at a party put on by former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick at the Manoogian Manson back in 2003.
 
The state police were chasing rumors that she was assaulted by the Mayor's wife and beaten so badly that she had to be rushed to the hospital.

The story has some legs because the investigators met so much resistance from the Detroit police department in trying to do their investigation. 
Sgt. Krebs testifying under oath in a deposition in the lawsuit brought by victim Green?s family.

The Sgt. described that himself along with the other two detectives went to the Detroit police headquarters to pick up 36 tapes of radio traffic and 911 calls about this party and the beating of the stripper. 

After they signed out the box of tapes which would be potential evidence that would prove or disprove the party and the assault took place. 

They were getting on the elevator to leave the building when they were stopped by Detroit police and told the evidence could not leave the building.

He said they negotiated that the evidence would be locked in a room under an evidence seal until they could get a warrant for the potential evidence. 
When they returned with a subpoena the seal had been broken and 30 of the 36 tapes were gone.

Eventually the Attorney General a member of the same political party as the Mayor told them to drop their investigation.

Finally a federal, state and local task force is going to reopen the murder investigation of Green.  This case smells bad and the actions of the Detroit police who worked for Kwame Kilpatrick back in 2003 in blocking the state police investigation really looks bad. 

The missing evidence gives rise to the possibility of a high level cover-up of the alleged assault on a victim that was almost immediately murdered.
For the complete story on the fascinating testimony of this career law enforcement investigator, see the following story: 

Did tapes disappear?
______________________________________________________

hello all, is kwame above the law?

[Ajax]

www.mlive.com
Region: City of Detroit, Region: Wayne County ?
Mike Cox: Kwame Kilpatrick had nothing on me; I will not quit campaign for Michigan governor
By Jonathan Oosting | MLive.com
November 10, 2009, 2:46PM
Attorney General Mike CoxAP File PhotoAttorney General Mike Cox, candidate for governor
Attorney General Mike Cox is trying to look to the future in his run for Michigan governor, but the past keeps getting in the way.

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is back in the headlines, and Cox is in the center of the storm, accused by a state police trooper of hindering a murder investigation by helping bury tapes that may have contained evidence of a long-rumored party thrown by Kilpatrick at the Manoogian Mansion in 2002.

According to the rumors, stripper Tamara "Strawberry" Greene danced at the party and was attacked by Kilpatrick's wife, Carlita.  Greene was murdered in 2003, and her family has filed a civil suit against Kilpatrick and other city leaders, alleging a cover-up and bringing the story back into the spotlight.

Cox has referred to the Manoogian rumors as "gum on his shoe" and in a column this morning the Detroit Free Press asked him to explain how it got there.  Cox appeared on WJR AM-760 today and essentially spoke to each of the questions openly posed by the Freep (in bold).

? Did the AG's office condone DPD's refusal to provide evidence sought by state police investigators, as Krebs asserts -- and if so, why?

    In his testimony, Krebs alleged that senior city police officials barred him from taking a box of 36 tapes from Detroit police headquarters shortly after Greene was shot on April 30, 2003.

    Listen to Cox explain his role in the investigation:
     

    ? Related: Lawyer for family of Tamara Greene on case against Kwame Kilpatrick, missing 911 tapes: 'This is the stuff conspiracies are made of'

    Cox told Frank Beckmann he was not personally involved in the decision ("I would just get briefings every day, every other day..."), but explained how he remembered events unfolding.

    "There was a subpoena for backup computer tapes from Gary Brown and others because there were some allegations there may have been some tampering with the computers, or to see if someone went in and tried to look at Gary Brown's computer.  There was not 911 calls at all. Those were never subpoenaed.  I think Mr. Krebs was a little bit confused about that.

    "The subpoenas went through lawyers. ...We got six tapes and one CD which we gave to the state police to look at. They never complained about, 'Hey, this isn't what we got.'

    Cox did say, "I could have issued a subpoena if it was relevant to our investigation," but quickly pointed out "...State police concluded their investigation after Kym Worthy was the Wayne County prosecutor.  They could of went to her any time for subpoenas or search warrants.  I never stopped them from interviewing the mayor.  I never stopped them from interviewing Carlita Kilpatrick. We just ended our investigation."

? Was the state police attempt to subpoena hospital records investigators hoped would identify the alleged Manoogian assault victim a fishing expedition involving the records of "thousands of African-American women at Detroit Receiving," as Cox has previously asserted, or a narrowly focused inquiry into one three-hour period, as Krebs testified? And if Krebs' version is correct, why did the AG's office refuse to authorize the subpoena?

    Cox essentially confirmed the "fishing expedition" characterization.

    They were "asking for a broad based search warrant," Cox said, explaining state police asked for the emergency room or admittance records of all black females at Detroit Receiving Hospital in October of 2002. 

    "They get about 80,000 a year in their emergency room. ...Literally, thousands of black females would have had their records gone through by cops," he said, later referring to 4th Amendment privacy rights.

    Cox said his office worked with state police to narrow down the subpoenas, but weren't successful.

? Why did Cox close down his investigation and pressure the state police to conclude its own before Krebs and his colleagues were satisfied with its thoroughness?

    According to Cox, his team was focused on whether illegal overtime was paid to security guards and whether Gary Brown was fired unjustly.  In both cases, there wasn't enough evidence to proceed with felony obstruction of justice charges, he said.

    "We just concluded our investigation after 130 witnesses -- none of whom could point a finger at anyone.  We said there was no criminal evidence, where somebody could raise their right hand and we could use them in a courtroom.  Because we are America after all.  As much as everyone like to kick the mayor in the behind right now, we have to remember that I can't charge -- then or now -- someone if we don't have evidence that we can use in a courtroom."

    Cox also said state police continued their investigation and his office assisted when requested.

? What did Cox hope to achieve by interviewing Kilpatrick himself, without placing the mayor under oath or making a record of the interview?

    Cox confirmed he did meet with Kilpatrick, but lead prosecutor Tom Furtaw and Detroit Corporation Counsel Ruth Carter were also present.

    The meeting wasn't productive, Cox said, because they had very little to confront him with regarding the Manoogian Mansion.

    "You gather all this evidence, and when you question this person you want to have evidence.  We had nothing to confront him with, but we called him in and we questioned him. 

    "...At the end, we asked about the Manoogian and whether it happened.  He denied it.  We didn't ask a lot of questions about the Manoogian because we had no one to confront him with.  No EMS guy.  No one."

    According to Cox, if the interview had been conducted under oath, the discussion would have been sealed and never available to the public or other interested parties.

    "If you read the blogsphere, there's people out there who say 'Kwame Kilpatrick had something on Cox for being unfaithful to his wife.'  I'd told her about that before and we were in counseling. He had nothing over me."

As for civil suit filed by Tamara Greene's family, Cox said he predicted it. "I also said there was ham-handed management and bad behavior."

Norman Yatooma, the family's attorney, also appeared on WJR this morning and offered a more suggestive view of the meeting with Kilpatrick: "The meeting somehow persuaded Mike Cox to drop this investigation and call it all urban legend, because that's exactly what he did four days following."

Regardless of his role, it seems the talk may already be hurting his run for governor.  Organizers recently canceled a fundraiser for Cox in West Michigan, and area GOP leader Chuck Yob told the Grand Rapids Press the Manoogian Mansion flap may have been to blame.

Cox yesterday told the Macomb Daily he'll fight on.

"I don't know when or if the story will go away but I will not quit the campaign," he told the Daily, adding: "If this hurts me politically, so be it."



Story tags: Mike Cox

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schinella
Posted by Misweety55
November 10, 2009, 5:05PM

Of course Kwame doesn't have anything on Cox! No hospital records subpoenaed for that time period and 30 tapes missing from the Detroit cop shop cannot talk. It's quid pro quo.
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pointedarrow
Posted by pointedarrow
November 10, 2009, 6:03PM

Me thinks he protests too much!
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smithdoejohn
Posted by smithdoejohn
November 10, 2009, 6:22PM

this guy is a dirty, lying politician. save us all if he buys becoming our governor.
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djfx
Posted by djfx
November 10, 2009, 6:26PM

Way to go Mike, you couldn't remember to pay your way overdue child support a few years ago, so maybe you forgot a few details about your more recent dealings with the Kwammo. Either way, your not good govenor material in my book. Just another public crook.
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teldar24
Posted by teldar24
November 10, 2009, 7:34PM

If these are actual transcripts of his responses to questions, his grasp of the English language is awful and I would say he speaks engrish instead. His grammar and sentence structure are terrible.
Based on this story, he should be sterilized and removed from what public office he has as well as being prevented from running for governor.

But then this argument would include the entire Detroit City Council, probably as well as the entire city of Detroit.
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BagginTea
Posted by BagginTea
November 10, 2009, 7:37PM

Can you spell "toast" boys and girls?
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sidelion
Posted by sidelion
November 10, 2009, 7:55PM

Where he proves he is lying is when he says they didn't put KK under oath because they didn't have any real evidence to present to him.
Why would you go in telling a suspect that you have no evidence, or if you didn't have any, wouldn't you approach it like you knew all about the party and had plenty of witnesses to try to get him to confess?

Why would he tip his hand and let KK know he had nothing yet? Why would he even present evidence to KK when they met, he would have saved that for court. You don't tell the criminal you have nothing on him before you interview him.

How could he and the police not come to an agreement on what hospital records to release? Because you don't agree you just dump a major source of evidence?

Obviously the people making those accusations have everything to lose but nothing to gain by doing so. Mike Cox is on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Don;t forget the text asking KK if he wanted Cosx to clear him. How exactly does that work?
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treesa2
Posted by treesa2
November 10, 2009, 8:06PM

Is Meijer getting their money's worth?
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idealist57
Posted by idealist57
November 10, 2009, 9:29PM

Maybe Cox's wife knew about his affair before the 'investigation' as he says, but it certainly was not yet public info. I suspect Cox only came clean when the affair became a hindrance to him doing his job on more than one occasion. I hold no ill will toward anyone who succumbs to basic human nature but there certainly seemed to be a lot of unanswered questions and suspicious behavior by the parties allegedly involved. The reason MSP asked the state AG office for assistance was to bring more resources and legal power to bear against those involved in a potential cover up/evidence tampering in an ongoing MURDER INVESTIGATION. And to conclude within several days there was NO merit to suspected events that took several YEARS to unfold seems ludicrous. Cox's office basically seems to have reviewed only the existing case evidence, and went no further. This includes not even attempting to interview or depose Carlita K., who was a central figure in the whole 'urban myth'...Why?

Easy to understand how Kwamme got the idea he could do anything he wanted in this town. I hope the attorneys representing Ms. Greene's family are able to to drag some aspect of this into the light of day. They seem like the last hope. I've long suspected the crimes that drove Kilpatrick from office are probably among the least of his misdeeds...
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2muchofnothing
Posted by 2muchofnothing
November 10, 2009, 9:47PM

The real issue here is the murder investigation of Ms. Greene. The number of shots fired at Ms. Greene and her boyfriend on a public street suggests that this was a professional hit. The possibility that Detroit Police Officers were involved should have drawn the serious attention of the attorney general. Instead, the investigation was thwarted, the state police were blocked, and the FBI stayed out of it.
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streetsweepr
Posted by streetsweepr
November 10, 2009, 10:02PM

This is just more smokescreening by Cox and I hope the media doesn't buy it. He says Kwame had nothing on him and his wife already knew about the affair. Well, Kwame sure could have had something over Cox regarding the affair. He could have helped it become known publicly when Cox was only in his first few months on the job. Isn't that what Jeffery Fieger was threatening to do a couple of years later and it was enough to send Cox out in front of the TV cameras crying about it all. Oh yes, I assure you Kwame could have had the same thing over Cox. Do not trust a word Cox says. He is desperate to avoid the truth being known in all of this.
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karatkake
Posted by karatkake
November 10, 2009, 10:10PM

Follow the money.
Isn't that what Deep Throat advised!?
Where is the investigation of the dirty money coming from Penske, Karmanos, and Gilbert??
Follow the money.
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http://zifferent.livejournal.com/
Posted by zifferent
November 10, 2009, 10:25PM

It's not that hard to figure out the money trail.
Two things.
First Karmanos has bet the farm on the renewal of Detroit. Kilpatrick's digressions threatened that.
Second is influence. With a boat load of money flowing like a river out of Washington due the stimulus package (particularly concerning updating the country's medical IT infrastructure) and Kilpatrick's mother a member of Congress part of the money/job/shifting him out of state in a hurry was about making sure Compuware got theirs.
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Paix
Posted by Paix
November 10, 2009, 11:53PM

The Michigan Attorney Weasel, Mike Cox, has a heck of a lot of nerve running for any office. He should have slinked away a long time ago.
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Miscatcheth
Posted by fastwalker
November 11, 2009, 6:59PM

There is a lot of curiousty about AG Mr. Cox. My thoughts and concerns are about Mr. Cox past connections and his past employers?

Do you all remember Ed MacNamara? He was the Wayne County Commissioner and had a large building named after him and was the figure behind the enlargement of Detroit Metro Airport. So instrumental was he, that he was going to be indicted for probably corruption and maybe more............. but he died first and those in power found it easy to protect his name and party by dropping the indictment.

But here is the rest of the story! Two people worked for the Democrat MacNamara. One was a GOP and the other a Dem. One was AG -Cox, the other Grandholm- Governor. What activities were they involved in while working for and employed by MacNamara? The Kwame mafia had a very large base. Who knows....... Cox may have attended that Mag. Party.

I watched the news that night when in a live transmission at a Detroit Hospital, a TV reporter and all others were blocked from the parking lot at a emergency entrance by the Detroit Police........ and were told that no one was allowed to see who was in the emergency entrance lobby........ the vehicles were Kwame's Black Esclades?
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[Ajax]

Kilpatrick's friends helped pay part of his restitution, hearing reveals
Who's paying? FBI agent says ex-mayor involved in deal

BY M.L. ELRICK AND JIM SCHAEFER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

    * Comments (1)

   

New doubts surfaced Wednesday about former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's claim that he doesn't know how his rent is paid on his million-dollar Texas home when an FBI agent testified that Kilpatrick was intimately involved in the lease negotiations.


And Kilpatrick, who testified three weeks ago that he didn't know whether his wife, Carlita Kilpatrick, had a job, said Wednesday on the witness stand: "At this particular time, I have the only income in the home."

Kilpatrick raised more eyebrows during the third day of his restitution hearing when he testified that he has borrowed thousands of dollars from friends to make his restitution payments.

"There's so many different people giving you so much money that you can't even keep it straight, is that what you're telling us, sir?" asked Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Athina Siringas, drawing a rebuke from Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner.

The revelations stood out on a day in which prosecutors sought to convince Groner that Kilpatrick has violated his probation by hiding his assets.

They also tried to prove that a $240,000 loan Kilpatrick received from local business leaders was really a gift that should have been reported to the court.

But the top Compuware attorney who drafted the deal testified that the business leaders always had intended only to lend Kilpatrick the money.
Doubts raised on rent claim

Three weeks ago, Kilpatrick said he didn't know who was paying his rent.

On Wednesday, an FBI agent testified that Kilpatrick approved the deal.

FBI Special Agent Robert Beeckman said he spoke with a Texas real estate agent who showed the ex-Detroit mayor and his wife, Carlita Kilpatrick, several properties. Beeckman said the agent told him he discussed with the Kilpatricks the rent for several homes -- including the million-dollar house they live in now.

Although only Carlita Kilpatrick signed the lease, Beeckman testified that the agent told him she did not sign the lease until after she called her husband to make sure the terms were correct.

Beeckman said he did not know how much rent the Kilpatricks are paying. He said a federal prosecutor asked him to call the agent Monday because of what was characterized as only a "financial investigation" and to help the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has accused Kilpatrick of hiding assets that could be used to more quickly repay $1 million in restitution. The money is owed under the terms of his criminal conviction in the text message scandal with the ex-mayor's former chief aide Christine Beatty.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Caplan stopped Beeckman from answering some of Kilpatrick attorney Michael Alan Schwartz's questions, citing federal regulations.

Another surprising development Wednesday came when Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Athina Siringas divulged that the mother of longtime Kilpatrick friends DeDan and Kandia Milton paid $12,500 toward Kilpatrick's restitution.

Even Kilpatrick was surprised about one aspect of the revelation: He testified that he thought the Miltons' mother, Sandra Ramsey, loaned him only $10,000. He learned from prosecutors that an additional $2,500 he thought DeDan Milton had loaned him had actually come from Ramsey.

Ramsey and her sons were all high-ranking political appointees during Kilpatrick's nearly two terms as mayor.

DeDan Milton was an assistant to Kilpatrick who later represented Kilpatrick on one of the city's pension boards. Kandia Milton had risen to deputy mayor by the time Kilpatrick resigned in September 2008.

Siringas slammed Kilpatrick for borrowing the money from Ramsey shortly after receiving a $150,000 installment of a $240,000 loan from four prominent local businessmen.

Kilpatrick said Ramsey helped him make the payment because "to leave town, to get to my wife and children, I had to pay that. ... She gave me some money."

"You had $150,000 in cash," Siringas said.

"My wife had $150,000," Kilpatrick replied. He has said that he transferred that money over to her and that under conditions of the loan, it was not to be used for restitution.

Siringas also grilled Kilpatrick on how he pays his monthly restitution to the city.

He said he might borrow $1,000, go to the ATM, withdraw money here and there. He said he stockpiles the money.

"Stockpile?" Siringas asked.

Kilpatrick caught himself.

"I shouldn't have said that," he said, chuckling. When laughter spread in the courtroom, he added: "That'll be in the headline. ... I need to be careful because it seems this has turned into something else, besides a restitution hearing."

Then Siringas asked him again why Kilpatrick said his wife handles all their finances.

"My wife is pissed at me. So I don't get involved in the day-to-day operations of our checking account," said Kilpatrick, whose philandering was widely publicized after the publication of his text messages. "She directs the account, totally. ...

"I'm just happy to be living in that house."

Siringas responded: "I would be, too, sir."

Prosecutors argued Wednesday that a $240,000 loan to Kilpatrick from four prominent businessmen was actually a gift.

As evidence, the prosecution called as a witness Compuware lawyer Daniel Follis, who testified that the repayment terms on the loan -- the promissory notes -- weren't completed until after the FBI and IRS came calling.

Siringas argued that was evidence the loan was a gift.

Schwartz attacked the prosecution's theory that it was a gift with Follis' testimony that not one of the business leaders who made the loan to Kilpatrick ever said to Follis that the money was a gift.

Kilpatrick's attorney also invoked the businessmen's credentials.

"All the gentlemen who made these loans are really liars?" Schwartz asked. He added: Is there any reason to believe that "any of these four highly respected businessmen who are pillars of our community were engaged in lying?"

"No," Follis answered.

Schwartz wrapped up his questioning with this exchange: "Is it a crime in this state to give a loan?"

"Not to my knowledge," Follis replied.

"Is it a crime in this state to receive a loan?"

"Not to my knowledge."

Judge David Groner had a few questions of his own.

Groner wanted to know if the other business leaders besides Compuware Chairman Peter Karmanos Jr. -- Dan Gilbert, Jim Nicholson and Roger Penske -- had ever contacted Follis directly or through their lawyers about the promissory notes.

"No," Follis told the judge.

"Did you find that to be odd?" Groner asked.

"No, like I said, I left it to Mr. Karmanos."

"No one raised this issue?" Groner asked. "Everyone forgot about it? All four of these guys?"

"I don't know what they thought," Follis answered.

John Rakolta Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of the Walbridge construction company, reiterated Wednesday that he never agreed to lend any money to Kilpatrick.

"I was asked and declined the opportunity to participate in the loan after consulting with my closest advisers. I know Pete, Jim, Roger and Dan very well, and I have the utmost respect for them both professionally and personally. They are men of honor and integrity and have worked tirelessly for the betterment of the city of Detroit," Rakolta said in a statement issued Tuesday.


Contact JIM SCHAEFER: 313-223-4542 or jschaefer@freepress.com. Contact M.L. ELRICK: 313-222-6582 or mlelrick@freepress.com

[Ajax]

www.detnews.com
New lawsuit filed in Tamara Greene case
Ex-sergeant is second to claim demotion over investigation
Paul Egan and christine macdonald / The Detroit News

Detroit -- A second Detroit homicide investigator is alleging he was demoted for investigating the killing of exotic dancer Tamara "Strawberry" Greene, linked to a rumored party at the Manoogian Mansion under former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Odell Godbold, a former sergeant in charge of the Police Department's "cold case" unit, filed a lawsuit Thursday against the city and three of his former supervisors, alleging they "protect(ed) an elected official by covering up information regarding the official's connection to Greene."

The latest lawsuit, filed in Wayne Circuit Court, further fans the flames of a controversy that has raged for more than four years over Greene's April 30, 2003, drive-by shooting death in Detroit.

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Greene's family sued top city and police officials in 2005, alleging they obstructed the investigation of her unsolved killing for political reasons. That case, in which tens of thousands of text messages sent and received by Kilpatrick and other city officials were subpoenaed for private review by federal magistrate judges, could go to trial next year.

Another former homicide detective, retired Lt. Alvin Bowman, alleged in an earlier lawsuit that he was transferred out of homicide for attempting to investigate Greene's killing. Bowman said in a sworn affidavit filed in the Greene case that he believed Greene was killed by a Detroit police officer. Aside from the caliber of handgun used, Bowman has not revealed what evidence he has to back up that claim.

Kilpatrick and other top city and police officials have denied the allegations, and police brass insist the Greene killing remains under active investigation.

Godbold, represented by Bingham Farms attorney Charles Gottlieb, alleges he learned that Greene and an off-duty Detroit police officer who moonlighted as a stripper performed at a 2002 party at the Manoogian Mansion. It was the off-duty female officer, not Greene, who was assaulted at the party and received a three-week leave of absence to recover from her injuries, the lawsuit alleges.

That account is consistent with one given by another retired Detroit homicide detective, Mike Carlisle, who told The Detroit News in April that he learned an off-duty Detroit police officer moonlighting as a stripper performed at the alleged party.

Godbold alleges that at a May 2005 meeting in the office of former Assistant Chief Walter Martin, also attended by former Deputy Chief Tony Saunders and then-Lt. (now Deputy Chief) James Tolbert, Martin told him not to talk about the Greene case or allow anyone to see the Greene file.

A short time later, Martin cursed at Godbold after learning Godbold had turned the file over to then-Inspector Bill Rice, who headed the major crimes unit, the suit alleges.

Martin then removed Rice from the major crimes unit and ordered Godbold to turn the Greene file over to Martin, the suit alleges.

Deputy Chief John Roach, a spokesman for Detroit Police, said officials had not yet seen the Godbold suit and had no comment.

The cold case unit, where the Greene case was assigned at the time, was shut down without explanation in August 2005 and Godbold was demoted to a drug unit where he reported to another sergeant, the suit alleges. Godbold claims he retired as a result of the demotion in January 2006, at which time the cold case unit was reopened.

Godbold also alleges an unnamed Detroit councilwoman told him she anonymously received a package of Greene's telephone records and "those records may connect Greene to the mayor's party."

pegan@detnews.com (313) 222-2069

[Ajax]

www.freep.com
Posted: Nov. 11, 2009
Mike Cox to testify in Tamara Greene suit Dec. 11
Manoogian party is a likely topic

BY BEN SCHMITT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER


Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox plans to give a deposition on Dec. 11 in the federal lawsuit against the City of Detroit brought by the family of slain stripper Tamara Greene.

Cox most likely will be questioned about his office's investigation into the never-proven rumors of a party and assault at the Manoogian.

That deposition will be sealed, along with all other depositions in the lawsuit, a judge ruled Tuesday. The lawsuit alleges that city officials conspired to thwart the investigation into Greene's April 30, 2003, unsolved slaying.

Lawyers for Cox's office told Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen during a hearing Tuesday that they want the attorney general's deposition to remain unsealed.

Cox's spokesman, John Sellek, said of the upcoming deposition that Cox "wants it in the open so that all the questions can be answered."

Rosen said that he would allow attorneys to again argue to unseal the deposition after its conclusion.

Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Mark Krebs testified in a deposition last month that the state investigation of the rumored Manoogian Mansion party struggled against stonewalling by Detroit police, pressure from Cox's office and reluctant witnesses.

Krebs testified in an Oct. 20 deposition obtained by the Free Press that Cox rushed to wrap up the investigation.

Cox has consistently denied any wrongdoing and said that the investigation into the party included interviews with 130 witnesses that yielded no evidence.

Rosen said he is concerned that the unsealing of any more depositions could compromise the ongoing investigation into Greene's killing.

Greene was rumored to have danced at the never-proven party in fall 2002.

Contact BEN SCHMITT: 313-223-4296 or bcschmitt@freepress.com
The family of slain stripper Tamara Greene, 27, of Detroit sued the City of Detroit. (GREENE FAMILY PHOTO)

The family of slain stripper Tamara Greene, 27, of Detroit sued the City of Detroit. (GREENE FAMILY PHOTO)
Attorney General Mike Cox (WILLIAM ARCHIE/Detroit Free Press)

A version of this story appears on page 3A of the Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, print edition of the Detroit Free Press.
related articles

    * Did Manoogian Mansion tapes vanish?
    * Detective: Way probe handled was 'unheard of'
    * Time line: Investigation into rumored Manoogian party

[Ajax]

www.freep.com
Kilpatrick returns to N.Y. Times' front page

BY MARK W. SMITH
FREE PRESS WEB EDITOR

It's been more than a year since Kwame Kilpatrick graced the cover of the New York Times, but the disgraced former Detroit mayor is back in the national publication today for a trend story on incriminating text messages.

Kilpatrick is mentioned in a front-page story headlined: "Text messages: Digital lipstick on the collar." A photo of the disgraced ex-mayor with his head in his hands also led the homepage of nytimes.com this morning.

The story, by Times reporter Laura M. Holson, takes a look at how text messages are increasingly being used as evidence of marital affairs -- especially in court proceedings.

Holson links the extramarital activities of Kilpatrick, golfer Tiger Woods and Sen. John Ensign, R.-Nev., whose affairs were all uncovered in part or in total by text messages.

"Although most e-mail users have come to understand that messages remain on their computers even if deleted, text messages are often regarded as more ephemeral ? type, hit 'send' and off it goes into the ether," Holson reports in the Times. "But messages can remain on the sender?s and receiver?s phones, and even if they are deleted, communications companies store them for anywhere from days to a few weeks."

Kilpatrick was also mentioned in a very similar story in today's Washington Post.

Kilpatrick returns to the witness stand today in Detroit for a hearing on his restitution to the city.

Contact MARK W. SMITH: msmith@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @markdubya or follow a feed of blog updates at @browserblog.

[Ajax]

Ex-bodyguard's guilty plea implicates Kilpatrick aides
Former mayor's aide investigated in Camp Brighton bribe case

BY BEN SCHMITT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

www.freep.com

A former police bodyguard to ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick laid out a bribery scam as he pleaded guilty today to his role in a corrupted real estate deal that he said involved two Kilpatrick appointees: Kandia and DeDan Milton.


Jerry Rivers pleaded guilty this afternoon to a bribery charge in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen in connection with the City of Detroit's sale of Camp Brighton to the Chaldean Catholic Church in 2007.

Rivers, who was a Detroit officer on the mayor's security detail, said a representative of the church approached him in late 2006 and asked if he could help facilitate the sale of the Camp Brighton for a fee. Rivers told Rosen that he introduced the representative to Kandia Milton, who Kilpatrick's council liaison at the time, and his brother, DeDan Milton, who was an assistant to Kilpatrick.

After city council approved the sale in 2007 by a 5-4 vote, Rivers told Rosen the church's priest paid $50,000 through a middleman to him and the Miltons.

Rivers, 39, or Taylor, said he took $20,000 and "the Miltons split the rest." Rivers identified the middleman as a relative to the Miltons.

Court documents filed today in Rivers case identify two city officials who collected bribes for the deal as "City Official C" and "City Official D"

According to the documents, "City Official C" sent a letter to the City Council on May 25, 2007, recommending the sale.

Kandia Milton sent a letter on the same date requesting that the city consider the purchase. It's unknown whether any other city officials sent similar letters the same day.

Milton, who has not been charged with a crime, declined comment when contacted by the Free Press today.

City Councilman Kwame Kenyatta, who opposed the sale, attended the plea hearing today and left disgusted.

"The previous administration was rotten to the core," Kenyatta said, adding that the church is complicit as well.

The Chaldean Catholic Church of the United States purchased the 160-acre city-owned property in Livingston County for $3.5 million. At one time, the land had been a summer camp and campground for Detroit residents.

The Rev. Manuel Boji, the Chaldean Church spokesman in Southfield, said today he's not concerned about the charges.

"The church did not pay any bribes for sure," Boji said today. "We bought it officially."

The Miltons are childhood friends of Kwame Kilpatrick. Their mother, Sandra Ramsey, is also a close Kilpatrick friend. All three were high-level appointees in the Kilpatrick administration.

Kandia Milton rose to deputy mayor under the Kilpatrick administration and was mayor for a day when Kilpatrick went to jail on a bond violation.

Wayne County prosecutors revealed during a hearing last month that Milton's mother paid $12,500 toward Kilpatrick's restitution to the city for his criminal conviction.

Kilpatrick testified during the Nov. 18 hearing that he thought the Miltons' mother, Sandra Ramsey, loaned him only $10,000. He learned from prosecutors that an additional $2,500 he thought DeDan Milton had loaned him had actually come from Ramsey.

Andrew Arena, Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge, said today: "The Detroit employees acted in their own best interests, which was personal gain. Detroit has a right to expect honest services from both city employees and elected officials."

Under the plea deal, Rivers faces up to 37 months in prison which could be lowered through his cooperation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Chuktow told Rosen that Rivers has agreed to cooperate.

A sentencing date is schedule for March 11.

[Ajax]

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Now guilty, Kilpatrick's ex-deputy Kandia Milton to help FBI
Could he aid in building criminal case against former mayor?

BY BEN SCHMITT and JOE SWICKARD
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS


Former Detroit Deputy Mayor Kandia Milton, a childhood friend of ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, became the latest symbol of public corruption in the city, pleading guilty Thursday to bribery conspiracy in a $3.5-million city real estate deal.

Milton is the first member of Kilpatrick's inner circle to be convicted in the ongoing federal probe of public corruption.

He is also the first person close to Kilpatrick known to be cooperating with the FBI, raising questions about whether he can -- or is willing -- to help federal authorities build a criminal case against his former boss.

"Today, your honor, I am accepting full responsibility for my actions," Milton said. "I betrayed the trust of many people -- my family, my friends, the citizens of Detroit, City Council ... and the mayor," a reference to Kilpatrick.

Under the plea, Milton admitted that he and two others divided $50,000 after the city completed the sale of a 160-acre plot of city-owned land in Livingston County -- known as Camp Brighton -- to the Chaldean Catholic Church. Milton recommended the sale to the Detroit City Council, which approved it in 2007.

Milton, 38, faces roughly three to four years in prison when he is sentenced March 18, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Chuktow told Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen that his continued cooperation could result in a recommendation for a reduced sentence.

[Ajax]

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Cox deposition in Tamara Greene case wasn't cordial, attorney says

BY BEN SCHMITT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER



Norman Yatooma said the deposition got heated. Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said he couldn?t talk about it.

Both parties exited the U.S. District Court building in Detroit around 5:15 p.m. today after Cox was deposed throughout the day in the lawsuit brought by family members of slain exotic dancer Tamara Greene.

Yatooma, who represents members of Greene?s family, told reporters that he is not done asking questions and he and the Attorney General will hold a phone conference next week to try and schedule a date to continue the deposition.

?It?s not nearly finished,? Yatooma said. ?I?m not certain that I can characterize what I learned in there today.?

Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen has ordered the deposition sealed and told both parties not to discuss it.

Still, Yatooma said today?s deposition wasn?t friendly.

?No, it wasn?t cordial,? he said. ?Look we?re not making friends, we?re lawyers, we?re making progress.?

Yatooma said Rosen had to get involved in the process today, but wouldn?t elaborate.

?The judge made it painfully clear that we all must keep our mouth shut about what?s learned in these depositions,? Yatooma said.

Cox said he couldn?t discuss the deposition.

?I tried to answer all the questions and be as open as possible,? he said, after exiting the courthouse.

Greene?s family claims in a lawsuit that Detroit officials conspired to thwart the investigation into Greene's April 30, 2003, drive-by slaying, which remains unsolved. Greene was rumored to have danced at a never-proven party in fall 2002 at the Manoogian Mansion.

Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Mark Krebs testified in an October deposition obtained by the Free Press that the investigation of the rumored party was thwarted by stonewalling from Detroit police, pressure from Cox's office to finish the probe and reluctant witnesses.

Cox has consistently denied wrongdoing, sharply disputed Krebs' characterization of his actions and noted that the party probe included interviews with 130 witnesses that yielded no evidence.

Before he entered the courthouse at 9 a.m. this morning, Cox said: ?We did a righteous investigation and all the history since then shows that.?
Michigan Attorney General Michael Cox makes his way past the media outside the U.S. Courthouse in Detroit. (ANDRE J. JACKSON/Detroit Free Press)



Related Stories

    * Cox set to be deposed today in Tamara Greene suit
    * Tamara Greene case: Hospital fights demand for dancer's records
    * Cox: Kilpatrick broke law if he used campaign funds in his 2008 assault case
    * Kilpatrick could face penalty if he paid lawyers from fund
    * DMC hospital request being challenged

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www.mlive.com
Mike Cox: Kwame Kilpatrick broke law if he used campaign funds for assault case defense
By Jonathan Oosting | MLive.com
December 15, 2009, 1:59PM
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick reacts to questions from Wayne County Prosecutor Robert Spada during his restitution hearing at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick may have broke one law while fighting accusations he broke another.

As the Associated Press reported in June, records indicate that Kilpatrick used $976,493 from his re-election fund to pay defense attorneys he hired in the wake of his text-message scandal.

Attorney General Mike Cox today issued an opinion that it is a violation of Michigan campaign finance law to use campaign funds to "defend against personal activity unrelated to performing the functions of the public official's office."

The Detroit Free Press reports the opinion does not specifically say Kilpatrick violated the law, but directs Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land to determine whether he used campaign cash to pay lawyers in his 2008 felony assault case.

John Sellek, a spokesman for Cox, told the Press: ?As Michigan?s lead campaign finance authority, she must use this test described in the opinion if campaign finance expenditures were proper or improper regarding legal fees, and it seems clear to us that if any campaign finds were use in defense of the assault case, then that would be improper.?

If he's found to have violated campaign finance law, Kilpatrick would face a fine.

Meanwhile, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says Kilpatrick violated his probation, which, if proven, could send him back to jail.

[Ajax]

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Kilpatrick scandal
City must repay Free Press for legal fees, judge rules

By JOHN WISELY
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER



The City of Detroit must reimburse the Detroit Free Press for most of the significant legal fees the paper incurred while fighting to bring public documents to light in the Kwame Kilpatrick text message scandal.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Robert Colombo Jr. ruled today that the newspaper had prevailed in about 80% of its requests and was entitled to the fees under the state?s Freedom of Information Act. The case went all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court, which released documents showing how a secret agreement had been reached to settle a police whistleblower lawsuit against the city. The Free Press fight to make public those documents and other information lasted almost two years.

?This was a historic case,? Colombo said. ?It ultimately resulted in the resignation and conviction of the mayor of the City of Detroit and the chief of staff. But for the lawsuit filed by the Free Press, maybe this would have never come to light.?

The paper had sought about $666,000 in legal fees and costs, but Colombo discounted that amount. He said some expenses would not be allowed and noted that the paper didn?t prevail when it sought more text messages in an effort to find criminal behavior beyond Kilpatrick?s perjury in the whistleblower case. To reach a final dollar figure, Free Press lawyer Herschel Fink said he would consult with the city?s lawyer, Bill Liedel, and recalculate the bill based on Colombo?s ruling. Michigan law mandates reimbursement to parties that win FOIA lawsuits.

Colombo noted that the Free Press? legal challenge ?wasn?t easy. It started out with a denial by corporation counsel? that any secret agreement existed. Colombo called Fink ?one of the foremost experts in the United States on FOIA law.?

Free Press Editor and Publisher Paul Anger said the newspaper was glad to be close to a resolution.

?The cost of hiding public corruption does not come cheap, and neither does the cost of uncovering it and going to court on behalf of the public?s right to know,? Anger said. ?We respect the judge?s decision.?

Contact JOHN WISELY : 313-222-6825 or jwisely@freepress.com

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www.detnews.com
dguthrie@detnews.com (313) 222-2548  Last Updated: January 28. 2010 8:02PM
Judge dismisses Kilpatrick's lawsuit against whistle-blower attorney
Doug Guthrie / The Detroit News

Detroit --A judge today dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick against the lawyer who gave the infamous text messages to the Detroit Free Press.

Wayne Circuit Court Judge Robert Colombo Jr. tossed the claim filed in October by Kilpatrick that demanded Michael Stefani should pay $2.66 million to the city for violating a confidentiality agreement secretly struck between Stefani and city-paid lawyers to hush the messages.

Colombo gave two reasons today for the dismissal: That the agreement contained broad language that released Stefani from any obligation, and that the matter had already been decided last August when Stefani was dismissed from another lawsuit Kilpatrick filed in Mississippi against him and the city's former text message pager provider, SkyTel, for violating his privacy.


"Now, I'm considering bringing an action for damages against Mr. Kilpatrick for the expense he put me through," Stefani said. "He has twice sued me for this. And it has cost me significant dollars."

Kilpatrick's lawyer, James Thomas, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Thomas had said earlier that Stefani misled Kilpatrick and his lawyers.

"He turned those materials over to the Free Press, and that was before he designated the confidentiality agreement," Thomas said previously. "He held out on one hand that they were going to be confidential documents and on the other hand made them public."

Stefani had long denied he was the source of the messages published by the newspaper in January of 2008. But he admitted during testimony this October before Attorney Discipline Board hearing claims of professional misconduct against him, that he handed a computer disk copy of the messages to a reporter before he authored the confidentiality agreement with city lawyers. Stefani said he later asked the reporter to return the disk. Stefani said he never asked if the reporter made a copy of the disk's contents.

Colombo ruled today that the language Stefani authored with Kilpatrick's lawyers in the settlement released Stefani from the penalty clause. Kilpatrick also signed the non-disclosure agreement. Colombo's ruling mirrored the decision reached in August in the Mississippi court where Kilpatrick is still suing SkyTel.

"It is a tremendous weight removed for me," Stefani said. "I can tell you they would have had a hard time collecting $2 million from me because it's long gone, paying bills and defending myself against frivolous lawsuits."

Stefani and four city-paid lawyers still face possible professional punishment up to disbarment for failing to tell a judge about the text messages before using them to force the settlement of a lawsuit the mayor had publicly vowed to appeal.

Although Stefani's hearing is over and he is awaiting a decision, he said today the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission has started to investigate new charges against him of perjury, claiming he lied during his previous testimony. It could be months before the commission determines whether to ask for another formal hearing on the allegations before the Attorney Discipline Board.

Earlier this month, Kilpatrick was given 90 days to pay more than $300,000 toward the $1 million restitution he owes the city as part of the plea-bargain he made in 2008 to avoid trial on perjury charges. The text messages had revealed Kilpatrick and his former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty had lied while testifying during a 2007 civil lawsuit trial where Stefani represented police officers who claimed they were wrongfully fired or disciplined.

During the restitution hearing that included six days of testimony by Kilpatrick, Wayne County's prosecutors presented evidence that Kilpatrick and his wife Carlita moved more than $600,000 through their bank accounts during a time their income tax returns claimed earnings of less than $130,000.

"Maybe he does have some money according to what I've heard," Stefani said. "He is living high on the hog."

dguthrie@detnews.com (313) 222-2548

[Ajax]

www.freep.com
Posted: Feb. 20, 2010


EX-MAYOR KWAME KILPATRICK: He didn't come up with the $79,011 in restitution due by Friday. Instead, a woman delivered $14,048 in money orders to the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in downtown Detroit. (December 2009 photo by ANDRE J. JACKSON/DFP)
Jail possible as ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick fails to pay up

BY JOE SWICKARD and BEN SCHMITT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS


A probation-violation warrant could be issued for ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick as soon as Monday after Friday's deadline passed without him making the full payment of $79,011 toward his $1-million restitution.

Instead, he sent $14,048 -- and he paid it with money orders.

A request would come from the Michigan Department of Corrections. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Groner, who ordered Kilpatrick to make the payment by Friday, could then issue a warrant calling him back to Detroit for a hearing.

Groner warned Kilpatrick earlier that he faced possible jailing if he didn't make the payment.

Richard Krisciunas, a University of Detroit-Mercy law professor and former high-ranking Wayne County prosecutor, said judges do not like to be defied, especially in high-profile cases. "Everybody's going to be watching to see what he does," Krisciunas said of Groner.

He said he expected little sympathy for claims by Kilpatrick that he no longer has the scads of money that records show passed through his family bank accounts.

"It's like saying I don't know where the money went. And in the meantime, pass me a steak, and I'll have two potatoes," he said.

One of Kilpatrick's lawyers, Daniel Hajji, said the former mayor wanted to make good on his obligation, but the situation "is getting out of control."

Another $240,000 payment is due by April 22. Hajji has said Kilpatrick doesn't have the resources to meet the stepped-up repayment schedule.

Groner had warned Kilpatrick that failure to pay the full amounts by the deadline could lead to penalties, including incarceration. The Michigan Department of Corrections could seek a warrant for probation violation on Monday.

If Groner issues a warrant, Kilpatrick would have to appear for hearings to determine whether he willfully violated the repayment order.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said: "We expect that a violation of probation warrant will issue. When that comes, we will be prepared to attend any hearings set by the court."
(2 of 2)

Hajji agreed: "After today, he will be ... in violation of probation. And in the words of the court, that would subject him to sanctions and incarceration."

"We don't know what Judge Groner is going to do," he added.

Groner ordered the stepped-up payments following six days of combative hearings that revealed that hundreds of thousands of dollars passed through Kilpatrick's family's accounts. The money included loans, gifts and funds from a nonprofit organization run by Kilpatrick associates that was set up for neighborhood improvement and voter education.

In the earlier hearing, Groner expressed exasperation with Kilpatrick's testimony about his finances, as well as the ex-mayor's claim that he had just $6 a month left over after living expenses to pay his restitution while living in a tony Dallas suburb.

In his repayment order, Groner said that Kilpatrick's shifting of $240,000 to his wife, Carlita Kilpatrick, "was a fraudulent conveyance to avoid restitution payments."

That money was loans from businessmen Peter Karmanos, Roger Penske, Dan Gilbert and Jim Nicholson. Manuel (Matty) Moroun, , the Ambassador Bridge owner and tycoon, gave $50,000 to Kilpatrick's wife and children.

Hajji said the appellate court "will have to address, whether assets, gifts, loans belonging to the spouse and the children can be used to pay restitution of an offender."

But Hajji questioned what throwing Kilpatrick in jail would accomplish.

"Judge Groner has made it pretty clear that he doesn't want to set him up for failure," Hajji said of Kilpatrick. "Obviously Judge Groner knows when he puts someone on probation that he's not there to punish that person. Probation is about rehabilitating the offender."

Hajji said Kilpatrick fully intends to make the restitution and has regularly made payments. He said everyone would be better served with faster repayment by allowing Kilpatrick to rack up commissions on sales as an agent for Covisint, a subsidiary of Detroit-based Compuware owned by Karmanos.

"We have to take a step back and stop looking at him as Kwame Kilpatrick and start looking at him as a human being," Hajji, of Farmington Hills, said. "He has a wife. He has three minor children. Mr. Kilpatrick has every intention to ensure that the City of Detroit gets their million dollars back."

Contact JOE SWICKARD: 313-222-8769 or jswickard@freepress.com

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Posted: Feb. 21, 2010
Feds have evidence ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick took bribes
Contractor said Kilpatrick got up to $100K, his father up to $290K; Kilpatrick's lawyer says he knows nothing of bribery accusation

BY JENNIFER DIXON and JIM SCHAEFER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

A contractor who pleaded guilty in an ongoing corruption probe in Detroit has told investigators that he handed as much as $100,000 in bribes to then-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in 2002, according to interviews and sworn documents reviewed by the Free Press.

The contractor, Karl Kado of West Bloomfield, also told the FBI he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to the mayor's father, and thousands more to a close mayoral aide, according to the records and interviews.

Kado told authorities he paid Kwame Kilpatrick in four or five installments of about $20,000 each. Kado, who is awaiting sentencing for paying bribes to protect multimillion-dollar Cobo Center contracts, said he sometimes delivered the money in envelopes to Kilpatrick's office on the 11th floor at City Hall, and sometimes Kilpatrick dropped by Cobo to get the cash.

The allegations are significant because they show, for the first time, that the government has secured the cooperation of someone who says he gave payoffs directly to Kilpatrick.

Authorities obtained the information as part of a years-long, complex and wide-ranging investigation in Detroit and Southfield that has produced a series of public corruption charges and 10 guilty pleas.


In pursuing Kilpatrick, investigators tracked cash moving in and out of bank accounts and wiretapped the phone of his father, among others, while slowly trying to build a case.

FBI agents also contend in sworn statements that they have grounds to believe Kilpatrick and his associates used the mayor's office to run a criminal enterprise, a term the FBI reserves for organized crime and racketeering cases.

It remains to be seen whether Kilpatrick or his father will ever face federal charges.

Kilpatrick's attorney, James Thomas, said he does not know of any bribery accusations against his client. The mayor's father, Bernard Kilpatrick, did not respond to interview requests. Kado and his lawyer declined to comment.
FBI believes mayor used office in criminal enterprise

In their investigation of Kwame Kilpatrick, FBI agents are trying to prove that the ex-Detroit mayor and his associates used his elected office as a criminal enterprise to enrich themselves, according to sworn documents reviewed by the Free Press and interviews with people familiar with the probe.

It's not clear whether the federal government will ever bring charges against Kilpatrick.

But in trying to build a case of criminal conspiracy, federal authorities have scrutinized a variety of evidence they say they have gathered against Kilpatrick, his father and close associates of the former mayor, according to records and people familiar with the probe.

Authorities describe a variety of alleged bribes and extortion demands during Kilpatrick's years in office that, when taken together, could amount to racketeering violations under federal law. Allegations cited in government documents and culled from interviews include:

• That Kwame Kilpatrick accepted bribes of up to $100,000 from Kado, a businessman who had exclusive, no-bid janitorial and electrical-services contracts at Cobo Center and a sundry shop at the convention hall.

• That Kilpatrick deposited unspecified sums of cash into bank accounts without declaring the funds as income.

• That Bernard Kilpatrick received large amounts of money from contractors and business owners in return for official acts by the mayor; and that he pressured others to donate to his son's political or civic fund.

• That Kado paid at least $30,000 in bribes to mayoral aide Derrick Miller, including $10,000 for a trip to Europe.

• That Miller told a local businessman he would be punished for backing a political opponent when Kilpatrick sought re-election. Shortly afterward, the businessman's commercial vehicles started getting ticketed in Detroit -- with the directive to do so allegedly coming from the mayor's office.

FBI agents have said they believe these activities and others constitute a criminal enterprise -- wording that indicates the government is trying to build a case under the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, which has been used to prosecute a pattern of crimes by public officials, Wall Street swindlers and, most notably, Mafia families.

A RICO case -- if it ever materializes -- would expose Kwame Kilpatrick to far greater potential punishment than others who have been charged in an ongoing metro Detroit public corruption probe. Defendants in RICO cases can face up to 20 years on each count.

Peter Henning, a Wayne State University law professor and former federal prosecutor, said building a RICO case may explain why federal prosecutors have spent years investigating Kilpatrick.

"It wouldn't be surprising if it took two or three years to build a case," Henning said.

Kilpatrick did not return phone and e-mail messages seeking comment Friday and Saturday. James Thomas, his criminal defense lawyer, said Friday he did not know of any bribery accusations against his client in the federal corruption probe.

"I am not aware of any direct payment that was ever made to Kwame Kilpatrick," said Thomas, who helped defend Kilpatrick against perjury-related charges in the text message scandal. "And frankly, I'd be surprised to see it.

"But I'm not going to try my case in the media. There hasn't even been an indictment yet. If Mr. Kilpatrick is charged, we will try our case in the court and not in the press."

Bernard Kilpatrick and Miller could not be reached for comment.
Kado provides specific evidence

In the long-running metro Detroit probe, which has already produced 10 guilty pleas, the government has talked to scores of people, subpoenaed bank and business records, and obtained court approval to wiretap phone conversations of Bernard Kilpatrick, then-aides to the mayor and others.

The most specific evidence to come out against Kwame Kilpatrick in the government documents and in interviews involves Kado, the onetime Cobo Center contractor. He is set to be sentenced in March, after admitting that he bribed a Cobo official, who is now in prison, and a city official and an associate of that official, both unidentified.

It is unclear what, if any, evidence federal authorities have to corroborate Kado's claim that he bribed the ex-mayor.

Kado, 69, declined to be interviewed Friday, as did his lawyer.

But the records reviewed by the Free Press show that Kado began to secretly cooperate with the government's long-running investigation of city hall corruption well before he was criminally charged in August 2008.

Kado offered the FBI the following account:

He said Kilpatrick initially approached him in 2001, when he was first running for mayor, and asked for Kado's support. Two or three days later, Miller, Kilpatrick's longtime friend, visited Kado at Cobo, where Kado ran a sundries shop.

Kado said he turned over $10,000 for the election.

Kado told agents that after Kilpatrick won election, he was hit up for cash by Kilpatrick's father, Bernard. Kado said he decided to pay because he believed Bernard Kilpatrick -- who had set up a consulting business just 10 days before his son took office -- could get Kwame Kilpatrick to help Kado resolve any problems at Cobo.

Kado estimated that he paid Bernard Kilpatrick as much as $290,000 between 2002 and 2005. The Free Press previously reported that federal authorities have tried to determine whether Bernard Kilpatrick was involved in payoff schemes to steer city business to contractors, and whether he illegally passed along money to his son.

In September 2005, the U.S. Attorney's Office wrote to Kado that he was a target of its corruption probe. Kado said he showed the letter to Bernard Kilpatrick, who rented office space from Kado in a building on East Jefferson, and asked him for advice about hiring a lawyer.

He said Bernard Kilpatrick asked whether he knew who the government was investigating. Kado said he wasn't sure, but said that Bernard Kilpatrick could be a focus. He said he then told Bernard Kilpatrick he couldn't give him any more money because the FBI was after him.

Thirty to 40 minutes later, according to Kado's account, Bernard Kilpatrick approached Kado in the parking lot and told him he could get Kado another 10 years at Cobo if he was willing to work together. Kado said he declined, telling Bernard Kilpatrick not to worry about it.
$10,000 here, $10,000 there for an aide

According to Kado's account, he also told FBI agents that Miller, the city's chief information officer under Kilpatrick, pressured Kado to give a piece of his lucrative electrical contract at Cobo to Miller's relative, who had been lobbying Kado for work.

Kado said he balked and contacted Bernard Kilpatrick to complain. After that, the relative stopped coming around Cobo.

Kado said he later regretted rebuffing Miller, believing he may have damaged his relationship with the mayor's close friend. So, at a party in the Palmer Park neighborhood in late 2003 or early 2004, Kado said, he gave Miller an envelope with $10,000 in cash.

Miller wanted more, Kado told authorities, and asked him for another $10,000 so he could attend a European auto show. Kado said he paid the money in late 2004.

Miller has not been criminally charged by the feds.

In August 2008, well after Kado began talking with the feds, he was charged with felony tax violations in connection with bribes at Cobo.

Last June, he admitted that he failed to report $270,000 from his sundry business that he used to bribe a Cobo Center director, an unnamed city official and that official's associate to protect no-bid contracts that generated about $1 million a year in profits for Kado. When he is sentenced in March, Kado faces a mere zero to six months in prison because of his cooperation.
RICO case has pros and cons

Federal RICO law defines a criminal enterprise as "any group of six or more people" who engage in a pattern of crimes such as bribery, extortion, money laundering, mail, or wire fraud."

"Such groups maintain their position through ... corrupt public officials, graft, or extortion, and generally have a significant impact on the people in their locales," the FBI says on its Web site.

In the records reviewed by the Free Press, federal agents listed at least eight people who they say participated in the Detroit conspiracy. The list included Kwame and Bernard Kilpatrick, and Miller.

To date, a dozen people have been charged in the Detroit-area corruption probe, with 10 pleading guilty. They have faced bribery and other charges carrying up to five-year prison terms.

Should Kilpatrick be charged under RICO, he will face up to 20 years on each count, if convicted. The government could also seize whatever assets Kilpatrick has left after state authorities finish collecting from him in the text message scandal.

David Griem, a Detroit criminal defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor, said pursuing a RICO case gives prosecutors two advantages.

"You increase or enhance the potential penalties if they are convicted, and it paves the way for forfeiture," Griem said, referring to the government's ability to seize any property that may have been purchased with criminal proceeds.

But, he said, a racketeering prosecution also "greatly complicates the case and makes it more difficult to prove."
Feds also may build money case

Government documents suggest the FBI also is investigating possible money-laundering or tax evasion by the ex-mayor.

Kilpatrick, who has been under criminal probe by the Internal Revenue Service, made several cash deposits, which he kept under $10,000 -- the level that would trigger automatic scrutiny by federal bank regulators, the documents reviewed by the Free Press say. The cash was deposited without being reported as income, the records contend. Authorities say Kilpatrick also paid credit card bills with cash.

Griem said the government would likely look closely at possible money laundering when someone makes cash deposits and also pays their bills with cash, particularly if the person is not running a cash-intensive business.

"If there is a pattern of such activities, this will certainly come under the scrutiny of federal investigators," Griem said.

Contact JENNIFER DIXON: 313-223-4410 or jbdixon@freepress.com. Staff writer M.L. Elrick contributed to this report.

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www.freep.com
Prosecution: Kilpatrick motion a 'rant,' ignores obligations to city

By JOE SWICKARD and BEN SCHMITT
Free Press Staff Writers
 

Wayne County prosecutors this morning urged the Michigan Court of Appeals to dismiss Kwame Kilpatrick’s latest motion, labeling it “essentially a rant” against a judge and their office.

The response called Kilpatrick’s filing Tuesday by Farmington Hills attorney Daniel Hajji “a remarkable motion ... and in no way meets the standard of the court rule.”

On Tuesday, Hajji filed a motion asking that probation violation proceedings be halted until the appellate court rules on whether Kilpatrick should have to make a $79,011 payment on his $1-million restitution.

In the motion Hajji said that Kilpatrick has to maintain an upper-crust lifestyle in Texas because he is trying to sell computer systems to “the privileged and the affluent.”

The reply, written by the prosecutor’s top appellate attorney Timothy Baughman, said Hajji’s motion took “no heed of the millions of dollars in costs to the taxpayers of the City of Detroit by defendant’s actions ...”

Kilpatrick is to be charged and arraigned Friday on a probation violation warrant for not making the full restitution payment.

The answer said Hajji’s filing was mainly a long complaint against Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner and the prosecutor’s office and was premature because Groner has not yet acted against Kilpatrick.

The Court of Appeals could rule on the matter at any time.

[Ajax]

www.washingtonpost.com
Legal troubles aside, ex-Detroit mayor lives large

By COREY WILLIAMS
The Associated Press
Saturday, February 27, 2010; 4:00 AM

DETROIT -- If these are tough times for ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, he appears not to have noticed.

Stripped in 2008 of his job as mayor and saddled with a felony record, he's legally prohibited from seeking the only occupation he ever wanted - elected leader.

But when the 39-year-old returns to Detroit for court appearances, he travels from his rented mansion outside Dallas, where he and his wife spend money on golf, restaurants and other luxuries.

His lawyers say that to pay his court-ordered restitution to Detroit, he must maintain the lifestyle of an affluent software salesman.

The question is how long will it last? Even with a Friday court hearing postponed, Kilpatrick still could face arraignment for missing a $79,011 payment.

[Ajax]

 www.detnews.com
Last Updated: March 06. 2010 1:00AM
Kilpatrick loses bid to halt case
Ex-mayor to face hearing on missed restitution payments
Doug Guthrie / The Detroit News

Detroit --The Michigan Court of Appeals on Friday rejected Kwame Kilpatrick's bid to halt a probation violation hearing, but his lawyer says the prosecution has a long way to go to prove its case.

"She (Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy) has to show he has the ability to pay and the prosecution's own evidence in that last lengthy hearing concluded there was only $23,000 left last October," said Michael Alan Schwartz, Kilpatrick's attorney. "That doesn't come anywhere near $79,000, let alone $319,000."

In a three-page ruling, the Court of Appeals on Friday denied the former mayor's appeal of two accelerated restitution payments ordered on Jan. 20 by Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner. The judge had demanded the payments because he determined Kilpatrick hid assets that should have been applied to $1 million in restitution he promised to pay the city in 2008 as part of a plea bargain that avoided trial on charges stemming from the text message scandal.

Michigan Department of Corrections probation supervisors asked for an arrest warrant when Kilpatrick missed the Feb. 19 deadline to pay $79,011. Another $240,000 comes due in April.

The higher court's rejection of Kilpatrick's appeal on Friday cleared the way for his arraignment on numerous probation violation charges, probably next week. Revocation of his probation could result in more time behind bars.

"This order lifts the stay and allows the probation violation hearing to proceed," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy's spokeswoman Maria Miller.

Kilpatrick will travel from his Texas home for a brief arraignment proceeding, where he will plead not guilty, said his lawyer. Schwartz said he expects Groner will allow Kilpatrick to remain free on bond until he returns for a full hearing on the charges at some future date.

"I expect to hear from the judge's chambers on Monday. I expect we will be given a date for arraignment and I expect it will be within the week," Schwartz said.

The appeals court, which had previously rejected a similar appeal, last week criticized Kilpatrick's pleadings for reconsideration as insufficient, but took on an unusual review of the case under its own authority. The last-minute consideration halted plans to have Kilpatrick return from his Texas home on Feb. 26 to face arraignment before Groner. On Thursday, the court reasoned that the appeal was "without merit."

"After careful consideration of the legal pleadings and transcripts before this court, the court orders that the application for leave to appeal is denied," wrote Judge Karen Fort Hood, presiding judge of the three-member appeals panel that included Judges Kurtis Wilder and Christopher Murray.
Judge was right

Fort Hood added comments beyond the court's order to say Groner's determination of the facts and Kilpatrick's credibility when he testified during the long restitution hearing "must be respected." Kilpatrick had complained the assets Groner was taking belonged to his wife and children.

"The trial court did not abuse its discretion by concluding the assets purportedly belonging to defendant's wife would be included in the determination regarding the proper amount of restitution payments," Fort Hood wrote. She also concurred with Groner's finding that Kilpatrick had fraudulently conveyed assets to his wife.

The arrest warrant issued late last month by Groner cited Kilpatrick's missed $79,011 payment and other violations, including failing to provide complete and accurate accounting of his finances; failing to surrender tax refunds; failing to disclose all gifts and benefits received by him and his family; failing to surrender all political funds; and failing to transfer pension proceeds from the state and city. Prosecutors declined on Friday to discuss even more charges they had earlier indicated might be coming.

Kilpatrick had promised to pay restitution as part of a plea bargain in October 2008 that included his pleading guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice and no contest to an assault charge. He served 99 days in jail, resigned from office, surrendered his law license and was placed on five years probation.
Ability to pay

Although Kilpatrick makes monthly payments of $3,000 toward his restitution, Groner ordered the additional payments on Jan. 20, following six days of testimony that began in October over Kilpatrick's finances.

More than $40,000 in money orders were delivered to the court last month to be applied to Kilpatrick's restitution, apparently from anonymous supports of the former mayor.

In her written comments Friday, Fort Hood noted that although Kilpatrick's ability to pay restitution wasn't a factor earlier, it can be raised as a defense in a probation violation hearing.

Schwartz said he was most interested in the final three words of the appeals court's order on Friday that returns the case to Groner's court for further action.

"Those three words, 'If deemed necessary,' aren't the words normally used there and may be a signal from the Court of Appeals that everybody needs to step back and ask if we need to prolong this," Schwartz said. "Virtually no other cases have probation violation hearings like this. But they are going after Mr. Kilpatrick for every nitpicking amount. He has years to go on his probation. Years to pay it off, yet they are after him like this. This is not justice."

Schwartz said that if found guilty by Groner of probation violations, Kilpatrick will again appeal to the higher court.

"If they revoke his probation, he has an appeal by right and he definitely will appeal," Schwartz said.

[Ajax]

www.wxyz.com
Kilpatrick Arraigned, Bond Set
   Reported by: Christy McDonald
Email: cmcdonald@wxyz.com
Last Update: 3/09 10:47 pm
   Kilpatrick Back in Court

Kilpatrick's lawyer appeals to Judge Timothy Kenny to disqualify Judge David Groner from handling Kilpatrick's case.
DETROIT (WXYZ) - Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been arraigned on a probation violation bench warrant. He was given a personal bond of $10,000.

The arraignment came after an afternoon of legal wrangling in two courtrooms. It began Tuesday morning when Kilpatrick turned himself in to Judge David Groner's courtroom. He was accompanied by his lawyers and the former mayor's new public relations spokesperson, Mike Paul.

During that hearing Kilpatrick's attorney, Michael Alan Schwartz, filed a motion that requested that Groner disqualify himself from handling the case. Judge Groner denied the motion and Schwartz notified him that he would appeal to Judge Timothy Kenny.

Judge Kenny heard from both sides before taking a 30 minute recess to decide if Kilpatrick will be arraigned. When he reconvened, Kenny arraigned Kilpatrick.

However, Kenny also indicated that he will decide if Groner should be disqualified. He said he won't issue his decision until Thursday because he needs time to go over the transcripts. A hearing has been set for 9:00 a.m. Kilpatrick has been ordered to stay in Michigan until that hearing is held.

In a related development, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon has also announced that he will hold a 3:00 p.m. news conference regarding the Kilpatrick situation.

Stay with WXYZ.com for the latest on this breaking story.

[Ajax]

www.mlive.com

Region: City of Detroit, Region: Wayne County »
'You'd better get my loot': Remembering Monica Conyers as she awaits sentencing
By Jonathan Oosting | MLive.com
March 10, 2010, 6:59AM
monica-conyers.jpgAP File Photo
Former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, who faces sentencing today for her role in the Synagro sludge bribery scandal, has been quiet these past few months.

But that hasn't always been the case.

While not as loquacious as alleged middle man Sam Riddle, Conyers' penchant for colorful language was on full display earlier this year during Riddle's trial. And the same judge who presided over that case, U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn, will sentence Conyers today at 2 p.m.

Here's what he heard:

    * "You'd better get my loot, that's all I know," Conyers told Riddle at one point, according to the indictment against him.

    * "I ain't no little punk. Don't be telling me to do sh--. You ain't no little punk and I ain't no little b----," Conyers told Riddle during a phone conversation recorded by federal investigators and played during Riddle's trial.

    * "I really want to F--- the mayor and Beasley up," Conyers told Riddle in another taped call, referring to then-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and city pension board member Jeff Beasley, who were trying to block a loan she was trying to secure for Reggie Barnett.

Cohn also heard several recordings in which Riddle openly bashed Conyers, even as he allegedly did her dirty work.

    * Riddle described Conyers as "crazy," "nuts," "a trip", "irrational" and possibly "beyond medication"

    * "We're not dealing with a normal person situation here," he said.

    * "She's just an undeserving b----," Riddle said.  "But I mean, I'm hooked up to her and she has access to a lot of s---"

    * In one recording, Riddle referred to he and Conyers as "political pirates"

And of course Conyers' council reign was marked by notorious outbursts, one of which became a bonafide YouTube sensation:

    * She once told DeDan Milton that she would have her brothers "F--- you up."

    * She went toe-to-toe with an eighth grader who called her out on her erratic behavior in council meetings (and it's safe to say the youngster won that battle).

    * She told widowed councilwoman Sheila Cockrel that she "needs a man."

    * She referred to fellow councilman Ken Cockrel Jr. as "Shrek" and dared him to "do it, baby!"


Conyers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery last summer and admitted taking cash in exchange for her vote on a sludge-hauling contract for Houston-based Synagro Technologies.

Federal prosecutors are hoping Cohn will sentence her to four or more years in prison, asking that he consider evidence of her other alleged crimes involving Riddle.

[Ajax]

www.examiner.com
Mich. congresswoman testifies at grand jury

A congresswoman who is the mother of Detroit ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick says she testified at a grand jury.

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick says she testified "briefly" and "honestly" Wednesday morning. She later issued a three-sentence statement.

The grand jury subpoena was publicly disclosed two weeks ago. The Detroit Democrat hasn't said what the grand jury wanted to know from her.

Federal authorities are investigating corruption in city government during Kwame Kilpatrick's tenure as mayor. Coincidentally, he was at the Wayne County courthouse on Wednesday for a probation violation hearing.

Kwame Kilpatrick resigned as mayor in 2008 and went to jail after pleading guilty to a state charge of obstruction of justice.
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