Photo: Raymond Boyd / Michael Ochs Archives / Getty
DETROIT, September 28, 2021 ~ Tuesday, Detroit City Councilman André Spivey pleaded guilty to bribery charges, after allegations that either he or a staffer accepted various bribes eight times over several years.
He is expected to resign in the coming days, as politicians convicted of corruption-related crimes are prohibited from holding office in state or local governments.
Spivey is the second Detroit City Council member to be convicted of a felony this year, after Gabe Leland pleaded guilty to a charge of state misconduct while in office for agreeing to accept cash and car repairs in exchange for a vote on a land deal.
September 28, 2021 ~ WJR Senior News Analyst Lloyd Jackson tells Paul W. Detroit City Councilman Andre Spivey is scheduled to plead guilty to bribery today.
While this, Councilmembers Janeé Ayers and Scott Benson are FBI targets in an federal investigation on bribery, extortion, and mail and wire fraud, though the investigation has not resulted in any criminal charges against either party.
Spivey is the first charged in an investigation known as “Operation Northern Hook” which is probing for corruption in Detroit among politicians, police, and other city leaders.
“Unfortunately, we continue to see corruption by Detroit public officials that erodes the public’s trust in government and undermines the City’s effort to move Detroit forward,” said Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters. “Today’s guilty plea is a result of the FBI’s commitment to bringing corrupt officials to justice and should serve as a warning to others who think they are beyond the reach of the law.”
Spivey is currently out on bond, and will be sentenced on January 19. Sentencing guidelines call for 37 to 46 months in federal prison.
