Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who recently began serving a 28 year prison sentence, was transferred to an Oklahoma prison on Tuesday. Kilpatrick was transferred to the federal prison as a temporary placeholder while he awaits transfer to another prison. The Bureau of Prison has not released any information on where Kilpatrick will be transferred to after he leaves the Oklahoma federal facility.
Kilpatrick was sentenced to the longest political corruption prison sentence in American history after being found guilty of numerous racketeering charges.
The former Detroit mayor has asked to serve his prison time near his wife and children in Texas, a request which the judge agreed with.
Kilpatrick was sentenced in November, with Judge Nancy Edmunds agreeing to the prosecutor’s recommendation. “The government has asked for a sentence of 28 years — I believe that is in fact what his sentence should be,” she said.
Kilpatrick’s attorney had asked the court for a maximum sentence of 15 years given his “disgraced and destitute” client’s contributions to the city.
“After his inauguration in January 2002, he worked 18-hour days with some regularity,” Kilpatrick’s attorney Harold Gurewitz wrote. “He showed up at crime scenes and on the streets to make sure they were cleared after snowfalls.”
In her ruling, Judge Edmunds said public officials bear an added responsibility and are accountable to their citizens.
Bobby Ferguson, Kwame Kilpatrick’s friend, was sentenced to 21 years in jail.
Kilpatrick won’t be released until 2037.
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