Ex-Detroit mayor indicted on federal fraud charges

6/24/2010

DETROIT - Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, already in prison for probation violations, was indicted Wednesday on federal fraud and tax charges, accused of turning a charity into a personal slush fund.

In May, Kilpatrick was sent to prison for 14 months for violating probation in a 2008 criminal case tied to sexually explicit text messages and an affair with an aide.

The indictment said Kilpatrick, 40, created the Civic Fund in 1999 and gained tax-exempt status after declaring it would be a social-welfare organization to enhance neighborhoods, help youth, and improve Detroit's image.

The government said Kilpatrick used the fund to pay for yoga, golf, camp for his kids, travel, cars, polling, political consulting, and much more.