Kwame Kilpatrick Convicted: Crooked Ex-Mayor of Detroit Found Guilty Of Corruption, Racketeering, Extortion

The 42-year-old former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick could get 20 years in prison after being convicted on over 30 federal crimes including racketeering, extortion bribery and more.

Prosecutors say the Kwame Kilpatrick was working with contractor Bobby Ferguson. Kilpatrick would steer $83 million worth of contracting jobs to Ferguson who would then give Kilpatrick a kickback estimated to be hundreds or thousands of dollars.

The jury deliberated for 15 days before returning with the guilty verdict. The judge presiding over the case thanked the jury saying, "These jurors did an extraordinary job."

Dave Bing, the current Mayor of Detroit, told the Huffington Post, "I am pleased that this long trial has ended and we can finally put this negative chapter in Detroit's history behind us. It is time for all of us to move forward with a renewed commitment to transparency and high ethical standards in our City government."

The defendants were tried in what is known as a RICO case. A RICO case is used to charge many individuals involved in on going crime within a criminal organization. The federal government often uses RICO to bring down mob families.

Besides Kwame Kilpatrick and Bobby Ferguson, Bernard Kilpatrick, Kwame's father, was also charged and convicted on one count of tax fraud.