Parole agent to interview Kilpatrick about unreported gift - Fox 2 News Headlines

DETROIT (WJBK) -- A Michigan parole agent plans to interview ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick about an unreported $2,000 gift from a Chicago pastor.

Corrections Department spokesman Russ Marlan says the interview Thursday will influence what action if any will be taken.

Kilpatrick is on parole for a 2008 state conviction for obstruction of justice and could be sent back to prison. He's now on trial on federal corruption charges.

He still owes $800,000 to Detroit and must regularly report income or gifts to the state.

Kilpatrick received a $2,000 wire transfer in December from the Rev. Corey Brooks of New Beginnings Church. FOX 2's M.L. Elrick obtained video, now posted on the Corrections Department website, showing Kilpatrick getting the cash at a Walmart store in Chesterfield Township.

Pastor Brooks says he wired the money after Kilpatrick sent him a letter pleading for help. He says he did nothing illegal by sending Kilpatrick the money, which he says came from church funds. "He didn't render any sort of work for it. It was a gift. It was a benevolence gift," Brooks insisted to FOX 32 News. "It was a Christmas gift."

Kilpatrick calls the matter "trivial" and says "the rules are different for me."

Attorney Daniel Hajji says Kilpatrick wasn't trying to pull a fast one. "He's been a model parolee," said Hajji.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report