Great Lakes Wire

The former mayor of Inkster, Michigan, Patrick Wimberly, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to demanding $100,000 in bribes. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Linda V. Parker, according to an announcement by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.

Wimberly served as mayor from 2019 through 2023. In the spring of 2022, he solicited $100,000 in cash payments to facilitate the sale of a city-owned property referred to as “Parcel 1” to an outside party identified as “Person A.” Over several months, Person A provided monthly cash bribes that began at $5,000 and were later increased to $10,000 after Wimberly insisted on higher payments. In total, Wimberly received $50,000 before the Federal Bureau of Investigation intervened and stopped the transfer of the property.

“We know that an honest leader gives stability to his city and one who is greedy for bribes tears it down. Mr. Wimberly dishonored his office so that he could line his pockets. And we will not let crooked politicians undermine our local government,” said US Attorney Gorgon.

Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, commented on the case: "The sentencing of Patrick Wimberly, the former Mayor of the City of Inkster, sends a clear and powerful message that no one is above the law. Public Corruption erodes the very foundation of our democracy, and the FBI in Michigan remains steadfast in protecting our community from those who abuse positions of trust. I would like to thank the dedicated members from our FBI Detroit Area Corruption Task Force for their thorough investigative work, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan for their successful prosecution of this case. The FBI will continue to investigate any allegations of criminal misconduct to ensure that justice is served, and the public’s trust is preserved.”

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Detroit Area Corruption Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown.