Ex-council member gets 2 years in prison for bribes
DETROIT (AP) — A former Detroit City Council member who quit after pleading guilty to a bribery scheme was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison.
Andre Spivey acknowledged his "very poor choices" in accepting $36,000 but had hoped to get probation. His sentence still was far below the 40 months recommended by federal prosecutors.
"This wasn't a mild case of corruption," U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts said. "This was not a single lapse in judgment, as many supporters suggest, but a pattern of corruption and flawed character that is antithetical to a public official."
In September, Spivey, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, admitting that he and an aide accepted bribes related to oversight of towing. The money came from an undercover agent or an informant.
Defense attorney Elliott Hall emphasized that Spivey's influence "never ripened" into actual action at the City Council. The judge, however, wasn't swayed.
"The bribery was complete when the defendant agreed to sell his soul, to sell his vote, even though he may not have found an opportune moment to deliver on that promise," Roberts said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gardey said Spivey's crime was another blow to the public.
It "left the people of Detroit with the sick and disgusted feeling that nothing has changed, and that corruption is endemic to their city," Gardey said in a court filing.
The Detroit council has been under scrutiny. Federal agents in August searched City Hall and the homes of two other council members. They haven't been charged; one now is out of office.
Another member, Gabe Leland, quit the council last year after pleading guilty in state court to a campaign finance crime.
Webinar to focus on ‘Drug Court Case Management Information Systems’ Feb. 18
The Michigan Judicial Institute is pleased to offer a webinar on “Drug Court Case Management Information Systems — General Training” hosted by Problem-Solving Court on Friday, February 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The DCCMIS General Training is designed as an introductory training for anyone who enters data for a drug, sobriety, hybrid, family dependency, juvenile, veterans treatment court, mental health court, or Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program. The training will focus on entering minimum data standards — from the initial screening process to discharge from the program. This training will be held remotely via Zoom.
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”
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