MichiganRadio

Conyers Should Do "Substantial Time," Prosecutors Say DETROIT, MI (Michigan Radio) - Federal Prosecutors are recommending former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers go to prison for four to five years. She will be sentenced this week.


Conyers pleaded guilty to taking at least $6000 in bribes to approve a sludge-hauling contract worth $1.2 billion.

She faces a maximum of five years in prison on that charge. In a memorandum to Judge Avern Cohn, Prosecutors suggest that her sentence should approach that level.

Wayne State University Law Professor Peter Henning says Conyers' sentence is likely to be on the high side because of the amount of money involved. "That can send the guidelines recommendation level really quite high," Henning says. "So it's possible that Ms. Conyers will be looking at five-year sentence."

Prosecutors also suggest that Cohn consider Conyers' other "corrupt acts" when sentencing her. During the recent trial of Conyers former Chief of Staff Sam Riddle, the government introduced evidence that Conyers and Riddle repeatedly set up pay to play schemes.
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