(WXYZ) - Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick wasted little time in leaving Detroit for his new home, but apparently didn’t travel to Dallas in the high-style he enjoyed last month when he went there for his initial job interview.
Shortly after the judge issued his ruling, Action News chief investigative reporter Steve Wilson learned that the former mayor was booked in a first class seat on an American Airlines commercial flight that left Detroit Tuesday at 5 p.m.
WATCH ACTION NEWS REPORT IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ON THE RIGHTTuesday, Judge David Groner cleared the way for former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to move to Texas.
Kilpatrick made the request in order to work at the Compuware subsidiary Covisint. According to the order, a letter faxed to the probation department indicates that Kilpatrick must be in Dallas for "several important business meetings" on Wednesday, March 11 and Thursday, March 12. The letter also says "it is essential that Defendant attend these meetings in person." Judge Groner's order lets Kilpatrick tranfer his probation to Texas in time to attend the meetings.
Under his new job, Kilpatrick will be working in Covisint's Addison, Texas officer, earning a salary of an estimated $120,000 per year. Judge Groner's order rules that, based on that salary, Kilpatrick will have to pay $6,000 a month in restitution for the first six months of his employment to the city of Detroit. After six months that figure will be adjusted to reflect his gross monthly income. He will have until the 15th of each month to make the restitution payment.
Kilpatrick will also have to make further restitution payments based on gifts he has received. On March 4 the Court was notified by the Probation Department that Kilpatrick had purchased a lease on a 2009 Cadillac Escalade with a cash payment of $35,000. The letter said the money came from a $26,000 gift from Carlita Kilpatrick and another cash gift of $9,000 that Kilpatrick received at the time of his sentencing. The gifts were not disclosed to the probation department when Kilpatrick was sentenced on September 4, 2008. Kilpatrick will have to pay $10,500 in restitution on the price of the Escalade lease.
The former mayor is also taking a monetary hit on the price of his new Texas home. He will have to pay $5,500 in restitution based on the $18,300 cost of the 6-month lease on the property. The total of $16,000 in restitution for both the home and the Escalade is due by March 20. Kilpatrick will also have to forfeit his $7,500 bond to the city as part of his restitution payment.
Any further gifts and benefits Kilpatrick receives will also be considered as income under Judge Groner's order, making them part of his gross income, and subject to restitution payments to the city. Because of that, Kilpatrick must disclose any gifts or benefits he receives. He must also give the court a list of any and all assets that are in his name and the name of his wife, Carlita. He must also disclose any assets that are held by a third party for his benefit.
