The federal trial of former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is set to begin Thursday, September 6. After years of scandal and made for t.v. drama, federal prosecutors will present their case against not only the former mayor, but his father Bernard Kilpatrick, his good friend Bobby Ferguson, and former water director Victor Mercado. The four men are facing numerous charges including bribery, extortion, and running a criminal enterprise.
According to the feds, contractors looking to do business with the city were forced by Kilpatrick and Mercado to subcontract with Ferguson who owns construction and demolition companies. In addition, it is alleged that other contractors siphoned money from three non-profit organizations to Kilpatrick and company. Federal prosecutors have worked diligently gathering evidence, which include, thousands of text messages, wiretap recordings and a plethora of witnesses.