Lawyers rest in Ferguson bid-rigging trial, jury could begin deliberations Friday

DETROIT (WXYZ) - As soon as Friday, jurors in the case against Bobby Ferguson will weigh the eight criminal charges filed against the former Contractor and friend of Kwame Kilpatrick. But first, attorneys for both sides will make their closing arguments, and those start tomorrow morning.  

The charges against Ferguson range from orchestrating a $12 million bid-rigging scheme, dumping contaminated soil on a Detroit housing project, and possessing firearms despite a previous criminal conviction that forbids him from owning any.  Two other men who worked with Ferguson are also facing charges.

Throughout the case, defense lawyers have tried to distance Ferguson from his friend, former Mayor Kilpatrick, who’s not on trial in this case.  They’ve sometimes cringed when the former mayor’s name was even brought up by the US attorney or witnesses.

Today Judge David Lawson told jurors that even though Kilpatrick isn’t a defendant, they can consider evidence and testimony about the former mayor and his alleged influence over Ferguson’s work with the city.

Earlier in the trial, a prosecution witness said Bobby Ferguson had access to the mayor's office thanks to a swipe card he was given that let him on to the executive floor inside the Coleman A. Young Building.  Except yesterday in court, that was proven not to be true. 

The swipe card Ferguson had gave him access to the Guardian Building downtown, not the mayor's office.