Detroit-The Detroit businessman who apparently was one of the “go-betweens” for the $1.2 billion Synagro contract money exchange scandal will become the first to be sentenced Oct. 21 in U.S. district court. U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn will hand down the sentence for Rayford Jackson, who pleaded guilty in June to a bribery charge resulting from the federal probe of city hall corruption. Jackson, 44, could get five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if Cohn decides on the maximum sentence. According to federal investigators, Jackson worked as a paid consultant for Synagro Technologies under Synagro Vice President James Rosendall Jr. , and his duties included facilitating the Detroit city council’s approval of the sludge processing contract. Rosendall pleaded guilty to bribery charges earlier this year and is awaiting sentencing. He is no longer connected with Houston-based Synagro. Also awaiting a sentencing date is Monica Conyers, who has admitted to misusing her office as Detroit city council president pro tem and her position as a trustee of the Detroit general retirement system pension in exchange for payments in connection with the contract. Gina Balaya, spokeswoman for the office of U.S. attorney for eastern Michigan, was not available to say whether there are any more charges anticipated in the scandal investigation.
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