Former Detroit Mayor Indicted

Despite already being in prison for violating his probation on state charges, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was indicted Wednesday on 19 federal fraud charges, including fraud and tax evasion. The charges stem from a nonprofit organization called Kilpatrick Civic Fund, a tax-exempt welfare organization, which he used to pay for personal expenses and to fund his mayoral campaigns in 2001 and 2005, the indictment alleges. It also accuses Kilpatrick of allegedly taking cash kickbacks—some for staff member's paychecks—and using the money not only for his campaigns but also for yoga, summer camp for his children, personal travel, moving expenses, and counter-surveillance and anti-bugging equipment. Kilpatrick's lawyer said his client was not involved in the day-to-day operations of the Civic Fund, and he is innocent of any of the group's wrongdoings. Kilpatrick is currently serving a five-year sentence at a Michigan prison for violating the terms of his probation in his conviction in an obstruction of justice case.