Bobby Ferguson Mistrial: Jurors Deadlocked In Federal Trial Of Kwame Kilpatrick Associate

After a jury deliberated for seven days before reporting they had deadlocked, U.S. District Judge David Lawson declared a mistrial in the federal trial of Detroit contractor Bobby Ferguson -- and the government says it will try the case again.

Charles Hines III, the jury foreman of the Bobby Ferguson trial told the Detroit Free Press yesterday that he was frustrated by the outcome of the trial.

"I personally feel it was a colossal waste of time and money given the outcome," Hines said.

Contractor Bobby Ferguson, a close friend of former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, faced eight charges from the feds, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, money laundering and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

According to FOX 2, the jury had unanimously agreed on several charges before deadlocking. The month-long trial called 50 witnesses to the stand and presented over 200 pieces of evidence in court.

The U.S. Attorney's office told reporters Tuesday night that they plan to retry Ferguson on charges that he, two associates and his companies rigged bids to win a $12 million low-income housing contract from the federal government. Ferguson, who has had prior convictions, was also charged with felony weapons violations, which carry sentencing maximums of 10 years. The U.S. Attorney's office alleged that Ferguson, along with co-conspirators Calvin Hall and Michael Woodhouse of Xcel, submitted inflated false bids so Ferguson could win a low-income housing contract.

Ferguson will also be tried this fall in a federal racketeering case involving Kilpatrick and other associates.