DETROIT (WWJ) - Once a popular, promising, charismatic young politician, disgraced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is expected to spend years, if not decades, behind bars.
Sentencing is underway Thursday for Kilpatrick, who was convicted of racketeering, bribery, extortion and tax crimes.
At 10 a.m., the courtroom was packed - and Kilpatrick was led in handcuffed, in a beige prison uniform.
Appeared thinner, with a shaggy beard, Kilpatrick was un cuffed and seated between his lawyers. Neither Kilpatrick's wife nor his parents appeared to be in the audience.
Beginning proceedings, Judge Nancy Edmunds thanked the probation department for the pre-sentencing report, and said there were two sets of objections to address.
Kilpatrick sat with his arms crossed as his attorney, Margaret Raben, said she objects to the calculation of $9.6 million the government estimates the conspiracy cost Detroit.
What's in dispute is about how much money Kilpatrick actually received.
'... I disagree with your objection that the 10 percent is not reasonably attributable to Mr. Kilpatrick,' said Edmunds.
Walking through some of the math, judge said she agrees with the prosecution that the $9.6 million is 'a defensible number.'
Those figures will affect sentencing guidelines.
Stay with WWJ and CBSDetroit.com for continuing coverage.
Kilpatrick was found guilty of shaking down contractors, ensuring that his friend, Bobby Ferguson, got millions in city work and turning a nonprofit fund to help struggling Detroiters into a personal slush fund, according to evidence at his five-month trial.
Federal prosecutors are recommending Kilpatrick serve at least 28 years in prison, while defense attorneys are hoping the sentence doesn't exceed 15 years. The U.S. Attorney in Detroit also wants Kilpatrick and co-defendant Ferguson to pay $9.6 million in restitution.
It's likely to be one of the longer sentences in recent cases of public corruption, the result of two dozen convictions that range from bribery to extortion to tax crimes.
The law allows any defendant to speak to the court before being sentencing.
MORE: Former Detroit Mayor Braces For Long Sentence
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