CHICAGO — Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced Thursday to 28 years in federal prison for running a criminal enterprise to enrich himself and his friends during the six years he was mayor of the struggling city.
The 28-year sentence was the one sought by prosecutors, who said Kilpatrick's behavior hastened the city's descent into bankruptcy.
"It is difficult to quantify the total cost of the devastating corruption instigated by Kilpatrick," U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds said Thursday at the sentencing hearing in downtown Detroit. "But one thing was certain: It was the citizens of Detroit who suffered when they turned over their hard-earned dollars but failed to receive the best services."
Kilpatrick, 43, has been serving time in a Michigan prison since he was convicted in late March of 24 counts for an elaborate pay-to-play scheme with bid-rigging, bribery, contractor shake downs and tax evasion. He was 31 when elected in 2001 and served from 2002 to 2008, when he stepped down amid a whistle blower scandal.
Speaking before the sentencing, Kilpatrick said he "beat down the city's spirit," but continued to deny he stole taxpayer money. "The people here are suffering, they're hurting," he said. "A great deal of that hurt I accept responsibility for."
Mayor Dave Bing, who took over the helm several months after Kilpatrick left office, said the sentence sends a "strong message" to public officials. "Public service requires a higher standard of ethics and accountability," Bing said in a statement.
Kilpatrick's attorneys said they plan to appeal the sentence.
His friend, contractor Bobby Ferguson, to whom Kilpatrick steered contracts, was convicted of nine counts. He will be sentenced Friday morning.
