Former information technology chief pleads guilty to bribery

DETROIT (AP) — A former head of Detroit’s information technology services office has pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting more than $29,000 in bribe payments.

The Justice Department says Charles Dodd Jr., 46, made his plea Sept. 27.

Authorities said bribes were accepted between 2009 and this year from two information technology firms doing business with the city. In return, preferential treatment was promised to both companies.

The Detroit News says online records show Dodd, a Canton resident, earned more than $142,000 annually from the city.

Detroit Corporation Counsel Melvin Hollowell told the newspaper in a statement that Dodd resigned before entering his plea.