Prosecutors in the federal case against former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick rested their case on Thursday, the 64th day of the trial. Kilpatrick, along with his father Bernard and family friend and city contractor Bobby Ferguson, face corruption charges for the mishandling of city contracts totaling over $100 million.
The final witness called by the prosecution was an Environmental Protection Agency agent who testified about canceled checks found in Ferguson’s office, according to The Associated Press. Earlier in the week, FBI agents testified that over $2.2 million in cash, checks and deposit slips were found in Ferguson’s office during raids. The money allegedly stems from the conspiracy created by Ferguson and the Kilpatricks, which also involved intimidation of Detroit businesses.
Defense attorneys will continue to call their own witnesses in the coming weeks, aimed at counteracting evidence brought forth by prosecutors. One of those witnesses will be former Detroit City Councilwoman Sharon McPhail, who ran against Kilpatrick during his 2005 re-election bid.
McPhail defended the former mayor during the 2008 scandal that landed him in prison for obstruction of justice, but she apparently has not spoken to him since.
“I will go because I am subpoenaed,” she told The Detroit Free Press. Despite the lack of communication, she maintains she is still on good terms with Kilpatrick. “He’s young enough to be my son. We don’t hang out. We don’t get together for lunch,” she said.
The trial, which began in September, could continue for two more weeks before jurors are asked to render a verdict on the 33 charges facing the former mayor.
The racketeering charge facing all three defendants carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and their respective extortion charges carry an additional 20 years.
A fourth defendant in the case, Victor Mercado, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in November and will face up to 18 months in prison.
