Executive's car bugged in corruption probe

DETROIT, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- FBI agents reportedly bugged a Synagro Technologies executive's car while investigating the sludge hauler's contract with the city of Detroit.

The Detroit Free Press reported Sunday that authorities made sound and video recordings from the car belonging to then-Synagro Vice President James Rosendall.

There are at least three videos taken in the car, the newspaper reported. Two of the tapes show Rosendall making payments to John Clark, who at the time was chief of staff to then-City Council President Ken Cockrel Jr.

Rosendall is reportedly to plead guilty Tuesday in federal court to conspiring to bribe a public official.

In 2007, he lobbied Detroit's City Council to approve a $47 million sludge disposal contract in Detroit. The council approved the deal in a 5-4 vote despite resident objections, the newspaper said.

Last February, Rosendall began cooperating with federal authorities after he was confronted by FBI agents about making alleged payments to city officials.

The newspaper said sources say Rosendall and the FBI also staged surveillance operations at Detroit-area restaurants as part of the corruption probe.