FORMER INKSTER MAYOR PLEADS GUILTY TO AGREEING TO ACCEPT $100,000 IN BRIBES

DETROIT - The former Mayor of the City of Inkster pleaded guilty to bribery, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Patrick Wimberly, 50, of Inkster, served as the Mayor of the City of Inkster, Michigan, from 2019 through 2023. In the spring of 2022, Wimberly demanded $100,00 in cash payments to facilitate the sale of property owned by the City to an outside party (referred to as "Person A"). Over several months, Person A provided Wimberly with monthly cash bribes to secure the purchase of this property. The monthly payments started at $5,000 but the parties agreed to eventually increase that amount. After the initial bribes, Wimberly explained that he was ready to increase the payments. Person A agreed. But when Person A later did not provide the amount Wimberly expected, Wimberly complained that he was due "10$ a month." Person A then increased the monthly payments to $10,000. In total, Person A provided $50,000 in cash to Wimberly for the purpose of winning the bid for subject property. The Federal Bureau of Investigation intervened before the property could be transferred to Person A.

The bribery charge, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

"Public officials who act in their own best interests, motivated by greed, betray the trust of their communities and the general public," United States Attorney Ison said. " We will continue to aggressively prosecute corrupt public officials for their illegal actions."

"Investigating public corruption is a primary concern and priority of the FBI in Michigan," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. The former City of Inkster mayor, Patrick Wimberly's guilty plea is a step forward in reminding public officials that they will be held accountable for their actions and should always operate with the highest level of integrity. Members of the FBI's Detroit Area Corruption Task Force will continue to investigate any allegations of criminal misconduct from our public officials, in an effort to maintain the public's trust."

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown.