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Task Force To Crack Down On Local Corruption

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - The FBI Thursday announced plans for the formation of a multi-agency task force to uncover and prosecute public corruption in the Metro Detroit area.

Joining the FBI are the U.S. attorney's office, state Attorney General, Internal Revenue Service, Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Detroit and state police.

"The city of Detroit has been hit hard by public corruption crimes," said IRS-CID Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez in a statement. "The individuals who commit these crimes are driven by greed and have no regret for their selfish actions. IRS Criminal Investigation is uniquely qualified to jointly work these investigations. We stand in partnership with the Detroit Public Corruption Task Force in combating this fraud."

For years federal prosecutors have been investigating corruption in Detroit city government. Among those already convicted are former City Council President Monica Conyers, her aide Sam Riddle Jr., former Detroit deputy mayor Kandia Milton, and Milton's brother, DeDan Milton.

Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, longtime associate Bobby Ferguson, ex-city water director Victor Mercado, ex-mayoral aide Derrick Miller, and Kilpatrick's father, Bernard, have been indicted on federal corruption charges.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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