Monday, August 3, 2009

Convertino to defend Waters in bribery case

Paul Egan / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Former federal prosecutor Richard Convertino said today he will defend former state Rep. Mary Waters on federal bribery charges.

Convertino filed documents in U.S. District Court in Detroit today to replace Royal Oak attorney Todd Flood as Waters' attorney.

Waters was charged with bribery last month in a case involving political consultant Sam Riddle and Southfield City Councilman William Lattimore. Court documents allege Lattimore was paid more than $12,000 to assist in getting approval for a pawn shop, Zeidman's Jewelry and Loan, to move from one Southfield location to another. Riddle allegedly received about $45,000 in cash from Zeidman's and Riddle and Waters each received pricey watches. Riddle allegedly passed on some of the cash he received to Lattimore.

 Convertino said he had not yet had the chance to research the facts surrounding Waters' case, but "I will be digging in and running hard."

Lattimore is scheduled to appear Thursday before U.S. District Judge Marianne O. Battani and is expected to enter a guilty plea.

Riddle, who was an aide to former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, is also charged with extortion and other counts in connection with alleged corruption in the city of Detroit. A Sept. 21 trial date is set for Riddle on those charges, in front of U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn.

A trial date for Waters, whose case also is before Battani, has not been set.

Waters hires former prosecutor

BY BEN SCHMITT AND JIM SCHAEFER • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS • August 3, 2009

Former State Rep. Mary Waters, who is facing bribery charges in federal court, is replacing her lawyer, Todd Flood, with former federal prosecutor Richard Convertino, the Free Press has learned.

Convertino confirmed today that “Miss Waters came to me and asked me if I would represent her in this matter.”

Waters and political consultant Sam Riddle are accused of bribing Southfield City Councilman William Lattimore with $12,500 to get approval for a pawnshop relocation and expansion.

For their efforts Waters and Riddle got pricey watches and Riddle collected $45,000 in cash, according to an indictment.

Riddle, a former aide to ex-Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, also faces bribery charges.

Riddle’s lawyer, David Steingold, said he’s not reading much into Waters’ legal move.

“I believe they are going to continue to present the united front,” Steingold said of Waters and Riddle. “Because they are both in the same position. Neither of them are guilty and it makes no sense for either of them to go against each other.”

Riddle is charged with multiple offenses in connection with the 2007 Synagro sludge-treatment contract in Detroit. That deal already has produced bribery-related guilty pleas from two local Synagro officials and Conyers.

Riddle also was accused of other corruption charges involving Conyers, who last month pleaded guilty to a bribery charge and resigned from her council seat.