The FBI has been probing public corruption in Detroit for quite a while now. This latest involving Councilwoman Monica Conyers (in photo) is only the tip of the iceberg.
By JIM SCHAEFER, M.L ELRICK, BEN SCHMITT and JOE SWICKARD Detroit Free PressDETROIT — Federal prosecutors have offered Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers a plea deal as part of their wide-ranging investigation of City Hall corruption, but she has not accepted it, the Free Press learned today.
The development comes a day after the U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that two key figures in a sludge-disposal deal admitted paying Conyers thousands of dollars in bribes to secure her support for a $1.2-billion city contract with Synagro Technologies. Conyers, who initially opposed the 2007 deal, switched her position as the council voted 5-4 to let Synagro dispose of wastewater sludge.
A source familiar with the inquiry said federal investigators also are talking to Conyers about investments by Detroit’s public pension funds. Conyers is a former trustee for the city’s general retirement fund.
