Detroit mayor donors have tax troubles

DETROIT, July 19 (UPI) -- Three of the 31 donors to a defense fund for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick are delinquent on state or federal taxes, The Detroit News reports.

One of the donors is Shubh Hotel Detroit LLC, the company that owns the Sheraton Detroit Riverside Hotel, formerly the Hotel Pontchartrain, the newspaper said. The company, which contributed $3,000, allegedly owes more than $500,000 to the state of Michigan.

Brian Jeffries, an investment manager, contributed $10,000 to the defense fund. The Internal Revenue Service claims Jeffries and his wife owe almost $300,000 to the IRS.

Medici Homes Inc., a Detroit-area real estate company, gave $50,000. The IRS has filed a lien against the owner, Salvatore Cavaliere, and his wife.

Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff are charged with lying under oath about their role in police firings and about their sexual relationship. The defense fund raised more than $185,000 in its first month, the News said.