Following a six-day trial and a day-and-a-half of deliberations, a 12-person jury in Detroit announced verdicts ^[1]earlier today in the federal charges brought against former Detroit City Council member Alonzo Bates in November 2005.

Jurors found Bates guilty on one count of bank fraud and four counts of stealing public money, but could not come to a unanimous decision on the extortion charge – which alleged Bates used his office to get a replacement roof and rebuilt chimney on his Detroit home. The judge dismissed the extortion charge, calling it a mistrial.

Bates’ sentencing is scheduled for January 4, 2007.

Bank fraud, the most serious of the verdicts, carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1-million fine.

Each of the theft-of-public-funds charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Bates will also be sentenced on four misdemeanor charges for failing to file his federal income taxes from 2001-2004.