Kwame Kilpatrick, the man who began a promising rise to fame by beating a former police chief and movie star to become Detroit's youngest mayor 12 years ago, has been indicted on multiple federal counts of corruption. The 42-year-old democrat accrued over 20 charges of mail fraud, tax fraud, racketeering and extortion at his trial Tuesday.
He and his co-defendants, including his father, Bernard, will now await sentencing in the case. Politico reports the court alleged Kilpatrick operated a "private profit machine" out of city hall, partially by awarding friend Bobby Ferguson a majority of the water and sewer construction contracts for the city by threatening subcontractors to hire Ferguson or lose city business.
Nicknamed the "hip-hop" mayor by supporters, Kilpatrick also allegedly set up a city fund aimed to serve needy residents of Detroit. He is accused of using money from the fund to furnish aspects of his posh lifestyle, including yoga lessons. He has already served time behind bars for a probation violation.
Despite the negative ambiance of the entire affair, and the statements from current Mayor Dave Bing to "put this negative chapter in Detroit history behind us," supporters showed up in droves to issue words of encouragement to the disgraced former executive. In all, the jury unanimously agreed on pursuing 45 of the 50 total charges against Kilpatrick and his co-conspirators.
Kilpatrick rose to fame in 2001, after previously serving as a state representative. He bested then-City Council President and established candidate Gil Hill, remembered most for his portrayal of Inspector Gil Todd in the "Beverly Hills Cop" movie series alongside Eddie Murphy. Kilpatrick succeeded in running on a forward-looking campaign, saying that those Detroiters who wanted 20th Century policy should vote otherwise.
He became increasingly known for being a partier and living the high life. It may have been his newfound luxury that embroiled him in a text-message scandal in which former city workers alleged Kilpatrick fired them when they initiated an investigation into possible indiscretions by the mayor. Kilpatrick was later convicted of perjury and spent 99 days in jail. Kilpatrick resigned in 2008 in the midst of the case, and moved his family to Texas where he now resides.
A sentencing date for Kilpatrick's current charges has yet to be announced.
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