Ex-Detroit mayor Kilpatrick indicted on federal charges

6/23/2010
ASSOCIATED PRESS

DETROIT — Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been indicted on federal fraud and tax charges.

Federal prosecutors say the alleged scheme is related to the Kilpatrick Civic Fund, a tax-exempt fund that was supposed to pay for voter education and other purposes.

Instead, Kilpatrick is accused of using it as a slush fund to take cash payments for himself, friends and relatives.

In an indictment filed Wednesday, he's accused of failing to report at least $640,000 in taxable income between 2003 and 2008.

The government says he used the money to pay for yoga and golf lessons, golf clubs, summer camp for his kids, personal travel, moving expenses, as well as “counter-surveillance and anti-bugging equipment.”

Kilpatrick spokesman Mike Paul says his family was aware that the charges could be coming. He'll be arraigned July 13.