Ex-Mayor of Detroit Jailed, Loses $120K Job, for Living Lavishly Instead of Paying Restitution
An ex-lawyer and ex-mayor of Detroit is no longer an ex-inmate.
Kwame Kilpatrick was sent back to jail today by a frustrated judge, for violating his probation by lying to the court and spending his money on a lavish lifestyle instead of putting it towards his $1 million restitution. The $1 million penalty was initially imposed, in addition to a 120-day jail term and five years of probation, in an obstruction case that resulted from a much-publicized scandal over racy text messages and an $8.4 million settlement in a police whistleblower case.
As the former mayor made a lengthy and emotional plea today for continued probation, Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner made little eye contact and stared at the papers on the bench, reports the Detroit Free Press.
“Probation is no longer an option,” Groner told Kilpatrick at the conclusion of his presentation to the court. “That ship has sailed.”
Imposing an 18-month to five-year term for violation of Kilpatrick’s probation, Groner said his testimony during the lengthy probation violation hearing “amounted to perjury.” He also said Kilpatrick tried to hide money that should have been put toward his restitution in the case.
After sentencing, his employer, Compuware Corp., announced that Kilpatrick is losing his $120,000-a-year job.
Some reporters saw Kilpatrick’s hand shake as he signed paperwork after the hearing.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com (Oct. 2008): “Detroit Mayor Jailed, Will Lose Law License—and Is Still Under Investigation”
ABAJournal.com (April 2010): “Wife of Ex-Mayor of Detroit Sues County DA, Says Her Money Was Spent on Hubby’s $1M Restitution”
Detroit Free Press: “Kilpatrick defense attorney: ‘They wanted to destroy this man’”
Detroit Free Press: “Detroit legislator: Sentence too harsh, sends wrong message”
Detroit News: “Attorneys get gag order on Kilpatrick pre-sentence report
