DETROIT – The re-trial in the federal bid-rigging case against Detroit's Bobby Ferguson is set to begin Thursday.
A mistrial in the case was declared in August 2012.
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Ferguson is charged with fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice. He's accused of obtaining millions of dollars in public works contracts through false statements and bid collusion.
Download:Bobby Ferguson Indictment
Download:Ferguson Search Warrant
He's also accused of making false statements in a proposal as part of the Garden View Estates project, a public housing development in Detroit.
Ferguson won't give judge personal financial information
On Monday, Ferguson was in court and asked a simple question: Do you want to hire your own attorney or do you want a court-appointed representative?
Ferguson asked a few of his own questions before giving an answer. He does not want to disclose personal financial information before the court but the judge can't move ahead with appointing an attorney unless he believes Ferguson meets the financial requirements.
Ferguson asked if one can be appointed without having to provide the financial information. The judge said no.
That means Ferguson must either come up with the cash to hire his own attorney or he will move forward representing himself.
He also may be holding this part of things up until he is sentenced in the federal corruption trial.
"For reasons that I cannot discuss he is not prepared and I don't believe will ever sign the affidavit of emergency," said attorney David Steingold, who previously represented Ferguson.
Ferguson files motion for new federal trial following corruption convictions
Meantime, in a separate case, Ferguson has filed a motion for judgment of acquittal or a new trial after being convicted on multiple federal corruption.
charges.
Ferguson has been in prison since the convictions in March. The judge has denied him bond.
Read more: Kwame Kilpatrick, Ferguson denied bond, ordered to prison
Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Ferguson, a contractor with the city, could face up to 20 years in prison for their racketeering convictions alone. A jury found Ferguson guilty on 9 of 11 corruption counts.
Kilpatrick was found guilty on 24 of 30 counts. His father and fellow defendant, Bernard Kilpatrick, faced four counts and was found guilty on the sole count of subscribing to a false tax return in 2005
From left: Kwame Kilpatrick, Bobby Ferguson and Bernard Kilpatrick in court. March 11, 2013.