DETROIT — U.S. prosecutors filed a 30-page memo Thursday asking federal Judge Nancy Edmunds to sentence ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to a minimum of 28 years in prison.

Seven months have passed since a jury convicted Kilpatrick of 24 felonies related to public corruption, including racketeering, extortion and bribery.

The memo summarizes much of the most compelling evidence presented throughout the 6-month trial that began in September 2012.

Court filing: kwame sentencing memo.pdf

Since 2004, when the federal sentencing guidelines were amended to reflect the grave consequences of corruption on communities, the sentences imposed in major state and local

corruption cases have ranged from 14 to 28 years in prison," prosecutors argue in the court document. "When taking into account these cases, as well as the sentencing guidelines and the statutory factors... a sentence of at least 28 years in prison is justified."

The prosecution says Kilpatrick, a career politician and attorney, knew well what he was doing, exploiting the public to line the pockets of himself, family and friends.

Prosecutors said that, "worst of all, he did it all in a city where poverty, crime and lack of basic services made it one of the most vulnerable metropolitan areas in the nation."

The government is asking that co-defendant Bobby Ferguson, found guilty of nine felonies, likewise receive 28 years in prison.

"Kilpatrick made Ferguson rich, improperly steering tens of millions of dollars of city contracts to Ferguson or companies associated with him," the court filing says. "After Kilpatrick took office,Ferguson and his companies received city-related gross revenues of more t

han $120 million, at least $73 million of which came from extortion and bid-rigging."

Both men are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 10.

If Kilpatrick receives 28 years, would that be too much, not enough or just right in your opinion? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.