The District of Columbia after more than a decade of revival and shedding its reputation as one of the county's most deadly and financially mismanaged cities is amid arguably its worst spate of corruption in modern history.

Last week, a campaign consultant to Mayor Vincent C. Gray admitted in federal court the Democratic mayor was elected in 2010 with the help of roughly $650,000 in illicit funds from a city businessman.

The plea follows City Council Chairman Kwame Brown, Democrat, resigning last month after pleading guilty to federal charges of falsifying mortgage documents. And Council member Harry Thomas Jr. is serving a three-year prison term for stealing $353,000 in taxpayer money earmarked for youth programs. He pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges in January.

The City Hall corruption comes amid years of prosperity in which the nation's capital became known as a nearly recession-proof city and a preferred market for such celebrity chefs and restaurateurs as Mike Issabella.