In depth: a Detroit bribery scandal

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - He owned a pair of garbage trucks in Grand Rapids and was known as Jimmy--- Jimmy Rosendall Jr.

20 years later, the Forest Hills Northern High School graduate is known as J.R.

He's at the center of a bribery scandal that could take down top Detroit city officials.
James Rosendall had it all.

The sprawling, $1.5 million home in Alpine Township and the $1.9 million beach home in Grand Haven.

"It," says his former business partner, is what he always wanted..

"He was ambitious. He was a go-getter. There's no doubt about it. He was not afraid to get his hands dirty, get the job done," said John Stapel, Rosendal's former business partner.
In fact, Rosendall still has it all, despite pleading guilty Monday to bribing top Detroit officials in the Synagro case.

Rosendall was in charge of Synagro in Michigan. And it was his job to land Detroit. It was a big contract: more than $1 billion over 25 years to haul wastewater sludge.

Rosendall last week told a federal judge what he was up against.

"I discovered officials expected me to give things to get their support," he told the judge. "I began giving to those demands."

Rosendall's plea agreement lays out the allegations: He provided trips, campaign contributions and other favors.

There was the meeting at a Grand Rapids hotel suite with a top Detroit official in late 2002 to discuss the scheme.

Documents don't name the hotel or the official. But The Detroit Free Press reports it was then-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick who met with Rosendall.

Kilpatrick was in the city in October 2002 to talk about cooperation between the two cities.

"Contrary to popular opinion, I have a lot of friends in Grand Rapids," said Kilpatrick.

There were charter jet trips. The flight to Las Vegas, allegedly so Kilpatrick could watch a boxing title match. Oscar De La Hoya lost that fight.

The bribes and gifts add up to more than $400,000.

Today, Rosendall's troubles are far from over.

While he was on suspension from Synagro, Rosendall worked for a Hudsonville repossession company. Burns Recovery.

Burns' chief operating officer didn't want to appear on camera. She tells 24 Hour News 8 that she knew Rosendall had worked undercover for the FBI. But she didn't know he had done anything illegal in Detroit.

He resigned as secretary-treasurer of the company last weekend, the day before his guilty plea.

And...She says...after word got out about Rosendall, her company started losing business.
Synagro fired Rosendall last week. And Detroit and the company voided the $1 billion contract.

Then a Grand Rapids bank sued Rosendall and his companies..... saying he defaulted on a $320,000 loan.

Both of his million dollar West Michigan homes are up for sale.

His former business partner says he's shocked by the leap from garbage man to bribery scandal.

"If you would have asked me this is what's going to happen to this guy, I would have said you're crazy. I didn't see it in him," said Stapel.

But how about the man himself - we went to Rosendall's Alpine Township home.... neighbors say he is living there - but he has not responded to our requests for an interview.

But we're not done asking questions... How did Jimmy Rosendall become JR?...his former business partner has much more on that subject Monday night on 24 Hour News 8 at 6.