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Monica Conyers pleads guilty to conspiracy


Monica Conyers

She faces up to 5 years in prison


Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers pleaded guilty this morning to conspiring to commit bribery and is free on personal bond.


U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn said, "The defendant now stands convicted."


The one count of conspiring to commit bribery is punishable by up to five years in prison.


No sentencing date has been set.


Conyers, the wife of powerful Democratic congressman U.S. Rep. John Conyers, appeared before Cohn to answer charges in connection with the wide-ranging probe of wrongdoing at Detroit city hall.


PDF: Download the charging document and plea agreement


She has long been under suspicion in the Synagro Technologies bribery probe, not least because she had been a vocal opponent of the contract before suddenly switching her sentiments. She became the deciding voice in the city council’s 5-4 vote to approve the sludge-hauling deal in November 2007.