Detroit (WWJ) -- Jurors deciding the fate of political consultant Sam Riddle will return for more deliberations Wednesday morning.
The jury was released from federal court in downtown Detroit earlier than normal as a result of a winter storm. Jurors will resume deliberations at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Riddle is facing seven counts including Conspiracy to Commit Extortion, Extortion, Attempted Extortion, Mail Fraud, Aiding and Abetting Bribery and making a false statement to a federal agent.
The U.S. Attorney's office says if he's convicted, Riddle faces a maximum of twenty years in prison on each of the five counts of extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, and mail fraud in the Indictment. Riddle faces a maximum of ten years in prison on the bribery count and five years in prison for making false statements to the FBI. Riddle could also be ordered forfeit $50,000 in cash.
Federal prosecutors claim Riddle conspired with then-City Councilwoman Monica Conyers to extort bribes from people with business at city hall or Detroit's pension board in 2006 and 2007. He says he had a legitimate consulting business.
Riddle criticized his lawyers on Twitter, referring to "ineffective counsel.'' His lawyers shrugged it off Tuesday.
Conyers, the wife of Detroit congressman John Conyers, pleaded guilty last summer to conspiracy. She's expected to be sentenced in March.
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