Political consultant Sam Riddle has until May 20 to accept a “take it or leave it” plea deal in his two federal corruption cases, attorneys said Monday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Cares disclosed the plea deal offer to Riddle attorney John McManus within earshot of a reporter from The Detroit News.
Just prior to a status conference before U.S. District Judge Marianne O. Battani in Riddle’s Southfield bribery case, McManus approached Cares and asked if there was a chance Riddle could plead guilty to a lesser charge than the 10-year bribery charges he faces.
“We’re working on something,” Cares replied. “We’re going to put a package together. It’s going to be take it or leave it.”
McManus later said he expects to receive the government’s offer by Wednesday and Riddle will have until May 20 to accept or decline.
Cares did not return a call seeking further comment.
Last Wednesday, a Wayne County jury convicted Riddle of assault and possessing a firearm during a felony. That stemmed from a Dec. 21 incident in which Riddle pulled a shotgun on former state Rep. Mary Waters, his live-in partner at the time, after she came home to find Riddle in bed with another woman.
Riddle faces a minimum of two years in prison in connection with that case and said after the verdict he was considering cutting a plea deal in his two federal cases.
Attorney Richard Convertino, who represents Riddle in a Detroit corruption case and Waters in a Southfield bribery case, said both are still considering their options.
Riddle also faces extortion-related charges in a Detroit City Hall case in which he is accused of teaming up with his one-time boss, former City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, to shake down businesses with matters before the City Council and the General Retirement System.
Riddle’s first trial in that case ended in a mistrial in front of U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn. A retrial is set for July 12.
The Southfield case, in which Waters is a co-defendant, is set for trial June 1.
Also Monday, prosecutors asked that Riddle and Waters be ordered to turn over to the government two pricey watches.
The watches, a $5,500 men’s Breitling and a $6,000 women’s Rolex, allegedly came from Thomas Labret, owner of Zeidman’s Jewelry and Loan, the pawn shop that was seeking Southfield City Council approval to relocate its outlet there.
The watches are subject to forfeiture as proceeds from a crime, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Foley said in a court filing.
Prosecutors have twice asked attorneys for Riddle and Waters to produce the watches, but “the watches were not turned over,” she said.
Labret has not been charged.
Former Southfield City Councilman William Lattimore pleaded guilty to bribery and awaits sentencing.
Source:The Detroit News/ Paul Egan
