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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
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Rooftop Pastor's Christmas Gift Could Land Former Detroit Mayor In Prison

By Mark Konkol | January 8, 2013 3:42pm
 The Rev. Corey Brooks speaking to reporters on Nov. 26, 2012.
The Rev. Corey Brooks speaking to reporters on Nov. 26, 2012.
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DNAinfo/Quinn Ford

CHICAGO — A Christmas gift from Chicago’s popular pastor Corey Brooks could land Detroit’s felonious former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick back in prison, according to a Fox News Detroit report.

Kilpatrick was caught on a Walmart security camera counting out $2,000 cash that Brooks wired to him as a gift from the church, according to the Fox report.

Brooks told DNAinfo.com that Kilpatrick is a personal friend who sent a letter asking for financial help.

“He’s a friend and it was Christmas,” said Brooks, who gained notoriety as the “rooftop pastor” for spending three months on the roof of an abandoned hotel in a winning battle to have it torn down. “He’s one of many people we helped over Christmas.”

Kilpatrick pocketed $800 and wired the rest to family in Texas, according to Fox.

The trouble for Kilpatrick, who owes the city of Detroit hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution, didn’t report the gift to authorities as required.

Kilpatrick resigned from office in 2008, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice by lying in court about having sex with an aide and served 14 months in prison for violating probation in that case.

The Michigan parole board will decide whether Kilpatrick violated the conditions of his parole by not reporting the cash from Brooks, according to Fox.