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Detroit City Councilwoman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - Monica Conyers' guilty plea is the result of a 2 year investigation into a city sludge hauling contract with a company called Synagro Technologies.

The Texas company scored a $47 million contract with Detroit City Council back in 2007. Conyers had originally been against the sludge-hauling contract, but then cast the deciding vote for it.

Conyers now admits to taking cash bribes in connection with the contract.

Andrew Arena calls it "an historic day in the city of Detroit and for this area."

Arena is special agent in charge of the investigation for the FBI. While no more elected public officials of the Detroit City Council will be prosecuted in the Synagro scandal, Arena warns that, for others, the investigation is not over:

"The message I want to send these people today is this: We're coming after you. Look over your shoulder, under your bed, in your closet. We're coming after you. As I said, this is not the beginning and it's certainly not the end. And we're going to continue to fight this fight until we eradicate public corruption from this area."

Conyers is free on personal bond, but could serve up to 5 years in federal prison.

Governor Jennifer Granholm says public officials should pay attention to what happened in court today.

"That plea agreement is a signal for all elected officials of the importance of maintaining the public trust," says Granholm. "These are positions that are held in trust for the public and that honor and integrity when you are serving is critical."

Conyers' felony conviction means she must forfeit her office, but is entitled to a public hearing, according to Detroit's City charter. Conyers has not sent in a letter of resignation. And because the ballots for the city's August 4th primary have already been printed, Conyers name will remain on the ballot.

Conyers is married to Representative John Conyers, a Detroit Democrat who chairs the House Judiciary Committee in Congress. The U.S. Attorney working on the Synagro case says Representative Conyers is in no way implicated in his wife's case, nor did the Congressman try to influence the investigation. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio