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Trial Begins in Detroit City Corruption Case DETROIT, MI (Associated Press) -

The first trial in a long-running investigation of corruption in Detroit government is opening in federal court.

After a series of guilty pleas from other defendants, prosecutors will begin putting evidence before a jury Monday in the case against Sam Riddle. He's a political consultant who's accused of collecting bribes for Monica Conyers when she was on the Detroit City Council.

Conyers pleaded guilty last year to accepting money for her vote on a sludge contract in 2007. The charges against Riddle include that deal.

He's charged with conspiracy, interfering with commerce by extortion, bribery and making false statements. The government claims he took money from people doing business with the city council or Detroit's pension board.

Riddle says he's not guilty. © Copyright 2012, Associated Press