The Kwame Kilpatrick Mega Thread

**bopcity** · June-23-10, 03:08 PM

Mike Paul doing his best Baghdad Bob ...

Detroit --A spokesman for Kwame Kilpatrick says today's 19-charge corruption indictment vindicates the former mayor.
"The FBI did a thorough three-year investigation into former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Where is the corruption, payoffs and bribes everyone expected the FBI to find attached to former Mayor Kilpatrick and his office as Mayor?" said Mike Paul, Kilpatrick's spokesman, in a written statement.

http://detnews.com/article/20100623/...othing--on-him

**artds** · June-23-10, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by bopcity

Mike Paul doing his best Baghdad Bob ...

Detroit --A spokesman for Kwame Kilpatrick says today's 19-charge corruption indictment vindicates the former mayor.
"The FBI did a thorough three-year investigation into former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Where is the corruption, payoffs and bribes everyone expected the FBI to find attached to former Mayor Kilpatrick and his office as Mayor?" said Mike Paul, Kilpatrick's spokesman, in a written statement.

http://detnews.com/article/20100623/...othing--on-him

Not so fast there, Mr. Paul.

It's definitely a surprise to everyone to see that there's nothing in the indictment regarding bribery or corruption.

HOWEVER, it's entirely possible that the government's intention is to try Kwame on those particular charges as a co-conspirator under a racketeering scheme, which may come later. To nail Kwame as a co-conspirator under a racketeering scheme, the government would only need to prove the existence of a conspiracy and have enough evidence to charge one of the co-conspirators with a RICO crime [[such as bribery or extortion). This would be a logical strategy for the government if they have a significant amount of evidence against some, but not all, of the co-conspirators.

So, for example, if the government were to later bring bribery and/or extortion charges against Bernard Kilpatrick regarding his involvement with Maestro Associates, they could name Kwame as a co-conspirator and nail both of them even if there's not much evidence that Kwame personally and directly committed any RICO crimes, so long as the government can show that Kwame committed acts [[or even that he merely intended to commit acts) in furtherance of the conspiracy.

**bailey** · June-23-10, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by artds

Not so fast there, Mr. Paul.

It's definitely a surprise to everyone to see that there's nothing in the indictment regarding bribery or corruption.

HOWEVER, it's entirely possible that the government's intention is to try Kwame on those particular charges as a co-conspirator under a racketeering scheme, which may come later. To nail Kwame as a co-conspirator under a racketeering scheme, the government would only need to prove the existence of a conspiracy and have enough evidence to charge one of the co-conspirators with a RICO crime [[such as bribery or extortion). This would be a logical strategy for the government if they have a significant amount of evidence against some, but not all, of the co-conspirators.

So, for example, if the government were to later bring bribery and/or extortion charges against Bernard Kilpatrick regarding his involvement with Maestro Associates, they could name Kwame as a co-conspirator and nail both of them even if there's not much evidence that Kwame personally and directly committed any RICO crimes, so long as the government can show that Kwame committed acts [[or even that he merely intended to commit acts) in furtherance of the conspiracy.

And Al Capone went away on tax evasion charges, that doesn't mean he was innocent of everything else. The feds are bringing the charges they know they can prove and will put him away. going for everything else is pointless.

LodgeDodger · June-23-10, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by artds

Not so fast there, Mr. Paul.

It's definitely a surprise to everyone to see that there's nothing in the indictment regarding bribery or corruption.

HOWEVER, it's entirely possible that the government's intention is to try Kwame on those particular charges as a co-conspirator under a racketeering scheme, which may come later. To nail Kwame as a co-conspirator under a racketeering scheme, the government would only need to prove the existence of a conspiracy and have enough evidence to charge one of the co-conspirators with a RICO crime [[such as bribery or extortion). This would be a logical strategy for the government if they have a significant amount of evidence against some, but not all, of the co-conspirators.

So, for example, if the government were to later bring bribery and/or extortion charges against Bernard Kilpatrick regarding his involvement with Maestro Associates, they could name Kwame as a co-conspirator and nail both of them even if there's not much evidence that Kwame personally and directly committed any RICO crimes, so long as the government can show that Kwame committed acts [[or even that he merely intended to commit acts) in furtherance of the conspiracy.

Thank you, art. I should have read the entire thread instead of shooting off a comment the second after reading a post. *sheepish grin*

**R8RBOB** · June-23-10, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by bopcity

Mike Paul doing his best Baghdad Bob ...

Detroit --A spokesman for Kwame Kilpatrick says today's 19-charge corruption indictment vindicates the former mayor.
"The FBI did a thorough three-year investigation into former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Where is the corruption, payoffs and bribes everyone expected the FBI to find attached to former Mayor Kilpatrick and his office as Mayor?" said Mike Paul, Kilpatrick's spokesman, in a written statement.

http://detnews.com/article/20100623/...othing--on-him

Word of the day: overkill

The government does not need to use "overkill" to get Kwame Kilpatrick. He was so reckless that the government could pick and choose a criminal offense. They know they can nail him with the civil fund because he used whatever was in his means to live his "Puffy/Puff Daddy/P. Diddy/Diddy lifestyle. The feds know that Kilpatrick would be less than likely to fight this in court because if he is convicted for another felony then the guidelines for sentencing is different for a repeat felon which is why Sam Riddle immediately accepted a plea deal with the government after he was convicted of pulling up the shotgun.

**firstandten** · June-23-10, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

Word of the day: overkill

The government does not need to use "overkill" to get Kwame Kilpatrick. He was so reckless that the government could pick and choose a criminal offense. They know they can nail him with the civil fund because he used whatever was in his means to live his "Puffy/Puff Daddy/P. Diddy/Diddy lifestyle. The feds know that Kilpatrick would be less than likely to fight this in court because if he is convicted for another felony then the guidelines for sentencing is different for a repeat felon which is why Sam Riddle immediately accepted a plea deal with the government after he was convicted of pulling up the shotgun.

How about changing the word of the day from overkill, to let's make a deal

Thats why the overcharging, I'll bet they will use this to make a deal, lessen Kwame's time and get Bernard behind bars as well.

Kwames probably not guilty of all 19 counts but the Fed's have thrown enough stuff against the wall to make KK seriously want to talk a deal.

**R8RBOB** · June-23-10, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by firstandten

How about changing the word of the day from overkill, to let's make a deal

Thats why the overcharging, I'll bet they will use this to make a deal, lessen Kwame's time and get Bernard behind bars as well.

Kwames probably not guilty of all 19 counts but the Fed's have thrown enough stuff against the wall to make KK seriously want to talk a deal.

1st&10, the law is always "overcharging" to add on to the charges that a defendant may face. Kilpatrick was charged with 19 counts because they can prove on for each count he broke the law. That said, the government prefer to make a deal. That is why I said Kwame will plead out to one or two counts and take a 20 year sentence. Because Kilpatrick is a convicted felon, it would be in his best interest to negotiate a deal because he goes to trial and is found guilty of multiple felonies, the sentence can be a bit more harsh which is why Sam Riddle pleaded out.

LodgeDodger · June-23-10, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by bopcity

Mike Paul doing his best Baghdad Bob ...

Detroit --A spokesman for Kwame Kilpatrick says today's 19-charge corruption indictment vindicates the former mayor.
"The FBI did a thorough three-year investigation into former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Where is the corruption, payoffs and bribes everyone expected the FBI to find attached to former Mayor Kilpatrick and his office as Mayor?" said Mike Paul, Kilpatrick's spokesman, in a written statement.

http://detnews.com/article/20100623/...othing--on-him

These indictments are pretty light and hardly what I was expecting. The guy has a point. If there are any attorneys online, do the Feds ever introduce additional indictments later?