Federal Jury Deliberates Bobby Ferguson’s Fate in White Collar Case

One month after the start of the Bobby Ferguson bid rigging trial, the white-collar crime case was sent to a Detroit federal jury to begin deliberations. June 15, 2012 was the first day the jury began deliberating the guilt or innocence of Ferguson. He is accused of federal crimes in Detroit involving rigging contract bids in an effort to secure a $12-million project at the low-income housing project Garden View Estates. According to the prosecution, Ferguson allegedly ran Xcel Construction Services, the construction manager of the project, and authorized over $9 million worth of contracts to be acquired through his other company, Ferguson Enterprises. The prosecution argues that the Xcel checkbook was in Ferguson’s possession, which is tantamount to controlling the operation, and amounts to a conflict of interest.

Ferguson is best known for being a long time friend of ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. The two will stand trial together in a separate case involving racketeering, bribery, and extortion over a 10-year stretch. In the current case, the scheme involved the two co-defendants and former employees, Michael Woodhouse and Calvin Hall, submitting inflated bids to make it appear as though his was the lowest. Ferguson denied all of this, including having any interest in Xcel.

Ferguson is also facing a myriad of other criminal charges including money laundering, mail fraud, and possession of a gun by a felon. The prosecution offered Ferguson a plea deal of 13 years instead of taking the case to trial, but Ferguson turned it down. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the most serious crimes. As of Tuesday, June 19, 2012, the jury was still deliberating Ferguson’s fate. They have nine charges and six defendants (three corporations as well as the three individuals) in total to sort through. Earlier on Tuesday, an alternate was added due to one juror’s illness.

Criminal charges can come in many forms, not just violent crimes. When facing any type of federal or state crime, an experienced Detroit Federal Crime attorney can be an invaluable resource.