Detroit political consultant, former Michigan lawmaker indicted in Conyers corruption case

DETROIT — A federal grand jury has indicted a political consultant on corruption charges, accusing him of working with a Detroit City Council member to shake down businesses for bribes in exchange for favors.

State media alleges widespread bribery in Rio Tinto case

BEIJING — A government-owned newspaper alleged Wednesday that executives from all 16 Chinese steel mills participating in iron ore price talks this year were bribed by Rio Tinto employees.

Former boss of China’s No. 2 oil company convicted of graft, given suspended death sentence

BEIJING — The former chairman of China’s second-biggest oil company, Sinopec, was convicted of taking $29 million in bribes and given a suspended death sentence Wednesday in Beijing’s latest effort to stem chronic corruption.

Maine man uses offer of beer to entice intoxicated burglar to leave home

BAR HARBOR, Maine — Police said a homeowner in Maine used a beer to entice an intoxicated intruder to leave. The intruder apparently didn’t realize that it was a nonalcoholic beer. Bar Harbor police said the homeowner awoke early Monday to find 22-year-old Scott Cote in the bedroom and used the beer to convince him to carry on.

Reports: China investigating 5 steelmakers in connection with Rio spying charges

BEIJING — Executives of five Chinese steelmakers are being questioned in a widening espionage probe of four detained Rio Tinto Ltd. employees, news reports said Tuesday, as Australia pressed for details of the case.

Peru’s ex-President Fujimori acknowledges paying spy chief to leave

LIMA, Peru — Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori acknowledged Monday that he paid his spy chief $15 million in state money to quit as his government collapsed amid a corruption scandal.

AP IMPACT: Crooked, pot-smoking police pose challenge to US Marines in southern Afghanistan

AYNAK, Afghanistan — Afghan villagers had complained to the U.S. Marines for days: The police are the problem, not the Taliban. They steal from villagers and beat them. Days later, the Marines learned firsthand what the villagers meant.

Jury convicts Connecticut businessman in trial featuring ex-Sen. George Mitchell

NEW YORK — A Connecticut businessman was convicted Friday of conspiring with others to corrupt the oil privatization process in Azerbaijan.

Indonesians vote in 2nd direct presidential poll; Yudhoyono re-election expected

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesians voted Wednesday in their emerging democracy’s second direct presidential election, with the incumbent expected to win a single-round victory thanks to recent economic and political stability.

Video of La. congressman accepting suitcase full of cash from FBI informant played at trial

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — From four different angles, jurors saw a former Louisiana congressman accept a suitcase filled with $100,000 on videos played in court Tuesday.

Indonesian president on track to win 2nd term in national vote

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s president, whose popular economic policies and corruption-free image boosted him to the top of pre-election polls, is counting on a single-round victory when the emerging democracy picks its next leader Wednesday.

Feds bring charges against 90-something Seattle strip club mogul with rap sheet dating to ’40s

SEATTLE — At 92, Frank Colacurcio Sr. shows little sign of slowing down in a life of crime that began back in the FDR administration with a statutory rape conviction.

Former Greek Siemens executive ordered held in Germany pending possible extradition

MUNICH — A German court said Wednesday it has ordered that a former head of Siemens AG’s Greek branch be kept in custody pending a decision on his possible extradition to face money laundering and bribery charges.

Judge sides with prosecutors, revokes Texas financier R. Allen Stanford’s bond

HOUSTON — Texas financier R. Allen Stanford could spend up to the next year in jail awaiting his trial on charges he allegedly swindled investors out of $7 billion.

Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman asks for new trial in corruption case

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman is asking for a new trial following his convictions on bribery and other government corruption charges a few years ago.

Attorneys await judge’s decision on whether Texas financier Stanford’s bond will be revoked

HOUSTON — Attorneys for Texas financier R. Allen Stanford are hoping a federal judge will side with them and allow their client to be free on bond while he awaits trial on charges he swindled investors out of $7 billion.

Decision on whether judge will revoke Texas financier Stanford’s bond to come Tuesday

HOUSTON — Texas financier R. Allen Stanford will spend at least one more night in jail after a federal judge said he won’t decide until Tuesday whether to free the once highflying businessman on bond while he awaits trial on charges he swindled investors out of $7 billion.

Detroit councilwoman’s bribery plea likely a footnote on Congressman husband’s legacy

DETROIT — On the day City Councilwoman Monica Conyers stepped into a federal courtroom at home in Detroit to plead guilty to bribery, her husband was at home in Washington. Several of Rep. John Conyers’ colleagues in the U.S. House said they weren’t aware his wife could soon wind up spending five years in prison.

US attorney calls for reform after latest in long line of Oklahoma sheriff scandals

OKLAHOMA CITY — A small-town sheriff and his top deputy kept close watch over a lonely stretch of interstate in eastern Oklahoma, looking for drug couriers to fleece. But one motorist carrying $30,000 in cash turned out to be an undercover federal agent.

Judge refuses to toss bribery case against brother of ex-congressman William Jefferson of La.

NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge has refused to throw out bribery charges against the brother of a former Louisiana congressman.

Former HealthSouth CEO Scrushy asks for new trial, citing selective prosecution

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy asked a judge to grant him a new trial Friday, saying he was a victim of selective prosecution when he was convicted of bribery in 2006.

Wife of congressman admits taking bribes, becoming latest Detroit politician felled by scandal

DETROIT — City Councilwoman Monica Conyers pleaded guilty to bribery charges Friday, becoming the latest Detroit politician taken down by scandal and marking a victory for federal prosecutors in their nearly two-year investigation into city corruption.

Judge delays Texas financier R. Allen Stanford’s release on bond

HOUSTON — Texas financier R. Allen Stanford, facing trial on charges he swindled investors out of $7 billion, will spend the weekend behind bars after a federal judge Friday ruled to delay his release on bond.

Defense attorney asks judge to uphold bond decision for Texas billionaire Stanford

HOUSTON — Defense attorneys are opposing a prosecutors’ request to delay an order letting Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford post a bond that would free him until he is tried on charges he swindled investors out of $7 billion.

Prosecutors appeal order that would free accused swindler Stanford on bond pending trial

HOUSTON — Prosecutors asked a federal judge Friday to delay an order allowing Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford to post bond that would free him until he is tried on charges he swindled investors out of $7 billion.

Prosecutors appeal order that would free Texas billionaire Stanford on bond pending trial

HOUSTON — Prosecutors are asking a federal judge to delay an order allowing Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford to post bond that would free him until he is tried on charges he swindled investors out of $7 billion.

Detroit lawmaker Monica Conyers, wife of powerful congressman, pleads guilty to taking bribes

DETROIT — City Council member Monica Conyers, the wife of powerful and popular Democratic congressman John Conyers, pleaded guilty Friday to accepting cash bribes in exchange for supporting a sludge contract with a Houston company.

Detroit Council member Monica Conyers, wife of congressman, pleads guilty to taking bribes

DETROIT — City Council member Monica Conyers, the wife of powerful Democratic congressman John Conyers, pleaded guilty Friday to accepting cash bribes in exchange for supporting a sludge contract with a Houston company.

Detroit Council member Conyers, wife of veteran congressman, charged with taking bribes

DETROIT — City Council member Monica Conyers, the wife of a powerful Democratic congressman, was charged Friday in a bribery scandal, accused of accepting cash bribes in a filing that typically signals a plea deal has been struck.

Antigua’s former top financial regulator surrenders in alleged Stanford swindle

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — Antigua’s former chief financial regulator surrendered Thursday to face U.S. charges that he aided an alleged $7 billion swindle by Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford, government officials said.