Mary Waters
Federal Bribery Conviction
In July 2009, Waters and political consultant Sam Riddle were indicted by a federal grand jury in a corruption probe that revealed multiple alleged pay-to-play schemes. The investigation was part of a broader federal probe into corruption in Detroit politics that would eventually lead to dozens of convictions.[1]
The indictment detailed a scheme involving a Detroit jewelry store's relocation to Southfield. According to federal prosecutors, Waters and Riddle conspired to give approximately $12,500 to Southfield Councilman William Lattimore to help secure approval for the relocation. As part of this scheme:
- Riddle allegedly received about $45,000 from the store's owner
- Riddle was given a Breitling watch valued at $5,500
- Waters received a Rolex watch worth $6,000
- Lattimore was charged with accepting the $12,500 bribe[2]
The federal investigation included extensive wiretap evidence. Among the recorded conversations were discussions about various deals and payoffs.[3] These recordings became crucial evidence in the broader federal investigation that also involved other prominent Detroit political figures, including Monica Conyers, who pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in a separate but related case.[1]
Waters' relationship with Riddle complicated the case, as they were both romantic partners and political associates during the period of the crimes. Riddle eventually pleaded guilty to bribery and tax charges in November 2010, in what he described as a deal to keep Waters out of prison.[4]
In 2010, Waters pleaded guilty to one count of Filing a Fraudulent Tax Return, a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of one year in prison. In her guilty plea, she admitted to:
- Accepting a $6,000 Rolex watch from Riddle, which he had obtained from businessman Thomas LaBret
- Understanding the watch was compensation for her work in helping secure Southfield Councilman Lattimore's support for relocating LaBret's business
- Failing to report the watch as compensation on her 2008 tax returns
- Agreeing to forfeit the Ladies' Rolex watch to the United States[5]
The case's resolution was notably different from initial charges, as Waters pleaded guilty to a tax-related misdemeanor rather than facing trial on more serious corruption charges. Despite attempting to later retract her guilty plea,[2] the conviction would later impact her ability to run for certain political offices due to Michigan's laws banning public officials convicted of using their position to commit crimes from holding local or state office for 20 years.[6]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Detroit political consultant Sam Riddle and former state lawmaker indicted in public corruption investigation" Associated Press, July 15, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Court upholds convictions of prominent Detroit political consultant" Michigan Public Radio, November 23, 2011
- ↑ "With bribery trial approaching, Mary Waters files to run for Michigan Senate" Associated Press, May 12, 2010
- ↑ "Detroit's dastardly political duo is back — but heading in different directions" Detroit Free Press, May 22, 2022
- ↑ FBI Detroit Division Press Release, May 20, 2010 (archived)
- ↑ "Michigan anti-property-tax group seeks to get on 2024 state ballot" Bridge Michigan, November 28, 2023