Detroit has been in trouble for years, but apparently, former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick had a big hand in its plight. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison for corruption on Thursday, following an awful series of serious scandals.
Kilpatrick was mayor from 2002 until 2008, in which time he ran several schemes to put extra cash in his pocket and his friends' pockets.
"I'm ready to go so the city can move on," said Kilpatrick in court. "The people here are suffering, they're hurting. A great deal of that hurt I accept responsibility for."
Back in March, Kilpatrick was convicted on a multitude of charges, including racketeering conspiracy, extortion, and tax crimes. The "Kilpatrick Entertprise" was a scheme in which the mayor extorted contractors and rewarded his friends. Kilpatrick had an excavator friend named Bobby Ferguson, who Kilpatrick pressured contractors into working with. Ferguson, in turn, shared profits with Kilpatrick.
"A man with the charisma and ability of Mr. Kilpatrick chose to use his talents on personal aggrandizement and enrichment when he had the potential to do so much for the city," said Judge Nancy Edmunds.
Kilpatrick seemed remorseful in court, but considering what he's done, it's likely that few people will sympathize with him.
"I want the city to heal. I want it to prosper. I want the city to be great again," said Kilpatrick to the judge. "I want the city to have the same feeling it had in 2006 when the Super Bowl was here."
Source: nydailynews.com.feedsportal.com
