MichiganRadio

Grand Jury Indicts Political Consultant, Former Lawmaker DEARBORN, MI (Michigan Radio) - A federal grand jury has indicted outspoken Detroit political consultant Sam Riddle on bribery and extortion charges.

Riddle is a former aide to Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers. He's accused of conspiring with Conyers to extort money from people who had business before the city council and Detroit's pension board - of which Conyers was also a member.

The indictment says Riddle and Conyers extorted $20,000 from a technology company, $20,000 from a restaurant owner, and $25,000 from a strip club company. He's also charged with accepting cash payments for Conyers in exchange for her yes vote on a sludge-hauling contract.

In a separate indictment, Riddle and former state Representative Mary Waters are accused of conspiring to bribe a Southfield city councilman to approve the relocation of a pawn shop.

Contact Sarah Hulett at sarahhu@umich.edu © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio