Detroit — A surprise guilty plea Monday from former Detroit water boss Victor Mercado streamlines and shortens a complex City Hall corruption trial against ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, legal experts said.
The plea came during a break in the 6-week-old trial and lets prosecutors focus their case on Kilpatrick, the biggest target of a years-long federal probe that has netted at least 24 felony convictions.
A slump-shouldered, gaunt Mercado, 61, admitted Monday he conspired with Kilpatrick to steer city contracts to the mayor's friend and co-defendant, contractor Bobby Ferguson. Mercado is not cooperating with prosecutors and is not expected to testify during the trial.
By Robert Snell and Mike Wilkinson
From The Detroit News:
Are you in need of a criminal lawyer in Michigan?
No comments:
Post a Comment