Former Mayor of Inkster Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Demanding Bribes

Strategic Insights -

United States District Judge Linda V. Parker sentenced Patrick Wimberly, the former mayor of Inkster, to 24 months in prison for demanding $100,000 in bribe payments. Wimberly pleaded guilty last September to the charges. The Federal Bureau of Investigation intervened before the property could be transferred to the person who was bribing Wimberly.

As a part of the scheme, Wimberly demanded and received $50,000 in cash from the person who was trying to purchase property owned by the City of Inkster. The payments started at $5,000 per month and were eventually increased to $10,000. The FBI's Detroit Area Corruption Task Force investigated the case and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted it.

Key Takeaways:

  • Patrick Wimberly, the former mayor of Inkster, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for demanding $100,000 in bribe payments.
  • The bribery scheme involved Wimberly demanding and receiving $50,000 in cash from a person trying to purchase property owned by the City of Inkster.
  • The payments started at $5,000 per month and were eventually increased to $10,000 per month.
  • The Federal Bureau of Investigation intervened before the property could be transferred to the person who was bribing Wimberly.
  • The case was investigated by the FBI's Detroit Area Corruption Task Force and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
  • The sentencing of Wimberly sends a message that no one is above the law and public corruption will not be tolerated.

Statistics:

  • $100,000: the amount of bribe payments demanded by Patrick Wimberly.
  • $50,000: the amount of cash payments received by Patrick Wimberly for the bribe payments.
  • $5,000: the initial monthly payment demanded by Patrick Wimberly.
  • $10,000: the increased monthly payment demanded by Patrick Wimberly after complaining that he was due "10 a month."

Sources:

  • US FBI DETROIT - The former mayor of the City of Inkster was sentenced to 24 months in prison by United States District Judge Linda V. Parker, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced today.
  • US FBI DETROIT - The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Detroit Area Corruption Task Force.
  • US FBI DETROIT - The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown