DETROIT – Karl Kado had a cleaning company, and he cleaned up.
Kado made millions of dollars in janitorial contracts at Cobo Hall. He took the stand Monday in the federal trial against Kwame Kilpatrick, Kilpatrick's father Bernard Kilpatrick and contracting buddy Bobby Ferguson.
Kwame Kilpatrick trial: Karl got a deal
Kado's story is that two months after being elected mayor of Detroit Kilpatrick picked up the phone and called him saying, "Karl, I need $10,000." Kado testified that within days he gave Kilpatrick's chief administrative officer, Derrick Miller, $10,000 in 100, 50 and 20 dollar bills stuffed into a brown paper bag.
Kado told the jury he received many calls from the Detroit mayor who demanded money -- as much as $5,000 or $10,000 at a time. Kado said he personally handed wads of cash to Kilpatrick from his pockets at meetings at the mayor's office and at Kado's Cobo Hall office. Kilpatrick showed up with body guards but went into Kado's office alone to collect the cash.
Kilpatrick trial: Texts, contracts at Cobo under microscope
Legal experts say the jury hearing from someone who says he personally handed off bribe money to the mayor of Detroit is extremely damaging for Kilpatrick.
"Kado is one of the first witnesses who would be in a position and say that he personally delivered money from himself to the mayor in exchange for the mayor's guarantee that he would grant him assistance in getting contracts at Cobo Hall," said attorney and legal expert Keith Corbett.
The defense is trying to discredit Kado by reminding the jury he was paying bribes at Cobo Hall before Kilpatrick was mayor, got caught and now is lying about bribes to the Kilpatricks to avoid prison.
"So now what he wants to do is he wants to work it off. And the target is Mr. Kilpatrick," said legal expert Todd Flood.
Watch: Jury hears secret recordings with Bernard Kilpatrick
Kado's testimony will not stand alone. He made secret tape recordings of meetings with Bernard Kilpatrick. Moreover, Kwame Kilpatrick's old childhood friend and top aide, Miller, will back up Kado's story when he testifies against Kwame and Bernard.
More: Derrick Miller pleads guilty
Derrick Miller outside Detroit court