Wednesday, September 5 2012 4:43 PM EDT2012-09-05 20:43:07 GMT
Kilpatrick is charged with 33 counts of racketeering, extortion, bribery, fraud, filing false tax returns and income tax evasion.
Kilpatrick is charged with 33 counts of racketeering, extortion, bribery, fraud, filing false tax returns and income tax evasion.
DETROIT, Mich. (WJBK) -
Ferguson met Kilpatrick while Kilpatrick was a state representative and the two became close friends after Ferguson helped a constituent who contacted Kilpatrick about a snowed-in driveway.
Ferguson was one of Kilpatrick's most-trusted mayoral advisers, acting as an unpaid city clean-up czar and holding appointed positions.
He took over his father's earth moving and demolition company before Kilpatrick became mayor and was a successful city contractor who worked on landmark projects like the Compuware headquarters.
A federal grand jury accused Ferguson of using his ties to Kilpatrick to force city contractors to pay him millions of dollars, sometimes for work he didn't perform. He was indicted on 14 counts of racketeering, extortion and bribery.
The most serious charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. In a separate case tried earlier this year, Ferguson was accused of bribery, money laundering and gun charges, but the case ended in a mistrial after one of the 12 jurors refused to convict Ferguson and his co-defendants.
Prosecutors have said they will retry the case after the Kilpatrick Enterprise trial has concluded.
Ferguson has said he innocent of all charges brought against him by the federal government.
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