Monica Conyers Pleads Guilty To Bribery Charge

Detroit (WWJ)  -- Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers pleaded guilty in a U.S. Federal Courthouse Friday morning to one count of accepting bribes.

WWJ Newsradio 950's Mike Campbell says a federal information from U.S. Atttorney's office alleges Conyers committed conspiracy to commit bribery. The information alleges Conyers admitted to meeting with an aide to Synagro contractor, Rayford Jackson in a McDonald's Parking Lot and Butzel Family Center in November and December of 2007. 

Conyers admitted in federal court to taking cash in exchange for her vote on a city sludge-treatment contract for Synagro.  Council approved the contract on a 5-4 vote. 

U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg said Monica Conyers admitted to "a pattern of conduct of accepting bribes,'' but the plea agreement does not specify how much money was involved.

The normally fiery 44-year-old Conyers spoke quietly while entering her plea in federal court, and left the courthouse without commenting to reporters, free on bond. She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she's sentenced.

Her lawyer, Steve Fishman, said he will ask Judge Avern Cohn for a sentence that doesn't include prison time. Both Fishman and federal authorities say the plea deal does not include a formal cooperation agreement.

Conyers is the most prominent person snagged in an investigation of corruption in a sludge-recycling deal with Synagro, which was rescinded in January.

Berg said the Synagro investigation will continue, but that prosecutors aren't looking into other city council members in the case. He called the plea deal an "appropriate and fair resolution to the matter,'' with a "high-level public figure pleading guilty'' to bribery.

Monica Conyers' plea is the latest blow to a city beset by political scandal in recent years. Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and a top aide were jailed after admitting to lying under oath about their romantic involvement during a whistle-blowers' trial.

And a recent audit of the city's beleaguered public school system has uncovered theft and other wrongdoing by employees.

Prosecutors made clear that John Conyers, Monica's husband and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, knew nothing of his wife's corruption.  Conyers declined to answer a reporter's questions as he walked to the House floor for a vote Friday morning, saying, "I have no comment whatever.''
  
His office issued the following statement:

"This has been a trying time for the Conyers family. With hope and prayer, they will make it through this as a family. Public officials must expect to be held to the highest ethical and legal standards. With this in mind, Mr. Conyers wants to work towards helping his family and the city recover from this serious matter.''

Live to WWJ coverage including a news conference involving the U.S. Attorney. 

City Council President Ken Cockrel Jr. said city attorneys were looking into whether Monica Conyers will lose her seat on the board immediately, or whether that will happen after she's sentenced.

"It's a very sad day for Detroit,'' said Cockrel.  "On the other hand, I think it's another step in clearing out some problems in city government. I don't necessarily think this is over. This may go beyond one council member and may involve non-elected officials.''

Andrew Arena, special agent in charge of the Detroit FBI office, said Conyers' guilty plea should signal others who may have been involved in wrongdoing who have not been named that the noose is tightening around them.
  
"The message I want to send is, ``We're coming after you.''
  
Monica Conyers' name still will appear along with 166 others on the Aug. 4 nonpartisan primary ballot for council, and it's unclear what would happen if she receives enough votes to get her name on the ballot for the November general election.

Like the brash and arrogant Kilpatrick, Monica Conyers took a defiant stance as the Synagro bribery accusations swirled around her, the council and city. She refused to address the accusations in recent weeks, and was often contentious with colleagues and the media.

Dave Bing, Detroit's newly elected mayor, said it's difficult to take more scandals but he's determined to look beyond them.

"It is unfortunate that our city must, again, endure another set of unethical circumstances surrounding elected officials,'' Bing said in a statement. ``This is further evidence of the need for and respect of strong ethical standards. However, we must stay focused on the job at hand - rebuilding and moving Detroit forward.''

Conyers is the third person to plead.  Rayford Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery to win the $47 million-a-year sludge deal for Synago Technologies.

Jackson said he arranged at least four payments for Council Member A, including $3,000 on the same day Conyers joined with the majority in approving the Synagro deal, 5-4. 

In January, Synagro's Michigan representative, Jim Rosendall, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. His plea agreement described how he distributed cash and other gifts to officials, including Council Member A.