FBI's raids of Bobby Ferguson's homes and offices produced stacks of cash, loaded guns

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Inside Bobby Ferguson’s Southfield townhouse, federal agents say they found a safe hidden behind a washer-dryer.  Inside, they say, was $275,000 in cash and four hundred thousand dollars in cashier’s checks.

The revelation came out today in federal court as prosecutors wrap up witness testimony in their case against Ferguson, a close friend of former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who is also facing federal charges.

When the feds showed up at Ferguson's Southfield home, they say he wouldn’t answer the door. Agents had to break it down.  Once inside, agents say Ferguson was wearing only underwear and said he didn’t live in the home, even though Ferguson’s initials were painted on the wall and pictures of him appeared throughout the house.

Perhaps more devastating for Ferguson was what else agents found inside the safes:  loaded firearms.  They found at least two guns in Ferguson’s offices and homes.  The problem here is that Ferguson is already a convicted felon and by law, isn’t allowed to possess any firearms.

Agents testified that next to one of the guns, they found paraphernalia often used to wipe finger prints from firearms.

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s name was mentioned only once in today’s hearing once: when prosecutors showed what appeared to be a City of Detroit identification badge with Ferguson’s name and picture. 

Prosecutor’s said it allowed Ferguson to get into the Mayor’s office here at the city county building.  It adds weight to the feds’ argument that Ferguson’s friendship with the mayor led to unprecedented access, and that access, they say, fostered a bid-rigging scheme.

Witness testimony will continue Friday and the prosecution is expected to rest its case.  Ferguson's defense team will then have the opportunity to call their own witnesses and mount their client's defense.

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