Jack B. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Jack Bruce Johnson is an American
politician who served as the county executive of Prince George's County
, Maryland
from 2002 to 2010. On November 12, 2010, both Johnson and his wife were indicted on federal charges as part of a larger political corruption
scandal in the county. On May 17, 2011, Johnson pleaded guilty to extortion and witness- and evidence-tampering.
, located outside of Charleston, South Carolina
. The fifth of ten children, Johnson's mother was a maid and his father was a farmer who raised white potatoes, okra
, and string breans. He attended a segregated high school, which he argues heavily shaped his worldview as a young person.
In 1970, Johnson received a bachelor's degree
in business administration from Benedict College
, an historically black school in Columbia, South Carolina
. He also served a stint in the United States Army
from 1970 to 1976. After college, Johnson's goal was to "get a nice job" where he could "wear a suit", which led him to the accounting department of a life insurance company in New York City
. Johnson returned to school soon after and graduated from Howard University School of Law
in 1975 with a J.D.
He entered into a legal career with the Internal Revenue Service
, where he spent nearly a decade from 1975 to 1984 working as an attorney for the chief counsel. For a brief period from 1984 to 1987, Johnson was associate professor of tax law
at North Carolina Central University
School of Law.
He lives with wife, Leslie Johnson, and his three children in Mitchellville, Maryland
. He is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi
fraternity.
, an old friend from law school vying for the State's Attorney
office of Prince George's County. Williams defeated 24-year incumbent Arthur "Bud" Marshall, thereby becoming the first black person elected to a countywide office in Prince George's. After his election, Williams hired Johnson as Deputy State's Attorney. Johnson's responsibilities in that position included day-to-day management of the office, including administration of its $5 million budget.
Williams was appointed to a federal judgeship in 1994 by President Bill Clinton
, opening the state's attorney seat for another politician. Soon after the news, Johnson announced his candidacy for the seat, surprising many of his colleagues who did not perceive political ambition in Johnson. However, Johnson built a strong community network and won the Democratic primary election with twice as many votes as the runner-up. He handily won the general election that November.
Johnson's tenure as top prosecutor in Prince George's was marked by an aggressive push against police brutality
in the notoriously violent Prince George's County Police Department
. He fired several deputy state's attorneys for refusing to prosecute officers, and his frequent battles with the police department brought a great deal of both positive and negative attention to his office. While his allies defended his aggressive push against the police as simply pursuing justice, opponents—including the police union
—questioned his intentions and accused him of political grandstanding. One circuit court judge in the county even questioned Johnson's grasp of criminal law
after dismissing one of his cases.
A November 20, 2006 article in The Washington Post
detailed excessive travel expenses claimed by Johnson:
In 2010, the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor began investigating whether Johnson and four Prince George's County council members had solicited bribes and favors while deliberating on a one-million-dollar annual lease for a county agency.
On November 12, 2010, Jack Johnson and his wife Leslie were arrested by the FBI
as part of the federal probe of political corruption in Prince George's. The Johnsons' were charged with witness tampering
and destruction of evidence. According to court documents filed by the FBI, Johnson is accused of taking kickbacks and bribes in exchange for helping a developer secure federal funding for housing developments in Prince George's County. Johnson can be heard on a wiretap instructing Leslie to locate and flush a $100,000 check from the developer in a toilet at their home and to hide $79,600 in cash in her bra
as FBI agents knocked at the door of their home with a search warrant. The Johnsons' face up to 20 years in jail for each offense, but both were released and Jack Johnson is on home detention with electronic monitoring
. Johnson remained in office until December 6, when his term expired; Leslie was sworn in as a newly-elected county council member on the same day; however, she would not be eligible to remain in office if convicted of a felony.
On February 14, 2011, Johnson was indicted for allegedly soliciting more than $200,000 in bribes as part of a conspiracy that dates back to 2003. While Johnson is the only person named in the indictment, two unnamed developers were unnamed co-conspirators in the indictment. The indictment reports that the FBI recorded conversations between Johnson, a developer and the county director of housing where cash bribes were solicited.
On May 17, 2011, Jack Johnson agreed to a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to extortion and witness- and evidence-tampering. Following Johnson's hearing, federal prosecutors revealed that former county housing director James Johnson (no relation) and developers Mirza Hussein Ali Baig and Patrick Ricker had pleaded guilty as part of a larger corruption probe. Leslie Johnson had been scheduled to plead guilty on May 3, but the hearing was abruptly canceled. Leslie Johnson pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges on June 30, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served as the county executive of Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
from 2002 to 2010. On November 12, 2010, both Johnson and his wife were indicted on federal charges as part of a larger political corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
scandal in the county. On May 17, 2011, Johnson pleaded guilty to extortion and witness- and evidence-tampering.
Early life, career, and family
Johnson grew up on Johns IslandJohns Island, South Carolina
Johns Island, also spelled John's Island, is the largest island in the U.S. State of South Carolina. It is one of the many Sea Islands along the coast of South Carolina.-Background:...
, located outside of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. The fifth of ten children, Johnson's mother was a maid and his father was a farmer who raised white potatoes, okra
Okra
Okra is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins...
, and string breans. He attended a segregated high school, which he argues heavily shaped his worldview as a young person.
In 1970, Johnson received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration from Benedict College
Benedict College
Benedict College is a historically black, liberal arts college located in Columbia, South Carolina. Founded in 1870 by northern Baptists, it was originally a teachers' college. It has since expanded into a four-year college.-History:...
, an historically black school in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. He also served a stint in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1970 to 1976. After college, Johnson's goal was to "get a nice job" where he could "wear a suit", which led him to the accounting department of a life insurance company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Johnson returned to school soon after and graduated from Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Howard University. Located in Washington, D.C., it is one the oldest law schools in the country and the oldest historically black college or university law school in the United States...
in 1975 with a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
He entered into a legal career with the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
, where he spent nearly a decade from 1975 to 1984 working as an attorney for the chief counsel. For a brief period from 1984 to 1987, Johnson was associate professor of tax law
Tax law
Tax law is the codified system of laws that describes government levies on economic transactions, commonly called taxes.-Major issues:Primary taxation issues facing the governments world over include;* taxes on income and wealth...
at North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
School of Law.
He lives with wife, Leslie Johnson, and his three children in Mitchellville, Maryland
Mitchellville, Maryland
Mitchellville is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 9,611 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Six Flags America theme park, Country Club at Woodmore, and Freeway Airport. The Capital Centre was located in...
. He is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity.
State's Attorney
In 1985, Johnson was recruited into politics by serving as the campaign treasurer for Alexander Williams, Jr.Alexander Williams, Jr.
Alexander Williams, Jr. is a United States federal judge.Born in Washington, D.C., Williams received a B.A. from Howard University in 1970 and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law in 1973. He was a law clerk, Hon. James H. Taylor, Seventh Judicial Circuit of Maryland from 1973 to 1974...
, an old friend from law school vying for the State's Attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
office of Prince George's County. Williams defeated 24-year incumbent Arthur "Bud" Marshall, thereby becoming the first black person elected to a countywide office in Prince George's. After his election, Williams hired Johnson as Deputy State's Attorney. Johnson's responsibilities in that position included day-to-day management of the office, including administration of its $5 million budget.
Williams was appointed to a federal judgeship in 1994 by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, opening the state's attorney seat for another politician. Soon after the news, Johnson announced his candidacy for the seat, surprising many of his colleagues who did not perceive political ambition in Johnson. However, Johnson built a strong community network and won the Democratic primary election with twice as many votes as the runner-up. He handily won the general election that November.
Johnson's tenure as top prosecutor in Prince George's was marked by an aggressive push against police brutality
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
in the notoriously violent Prince George's County Police Department
Prince George's County Police Department
The Prince George's County Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States, servicing a population of over 850,000 residents and visitors within 498 square miles of jurisdiction.-History:The Prince George's County Police Department...
. He fired several deputy state's attorneys for refusing to prosecute officers, and his frequent battles with the police department brought a great deal of both positive and negative attention to his office. While his allies defended his aggressive push against the police as simply pursuing justice, opponents—including the police union
Fraternal Order of Police
The Fraternal Order of Police is an organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. It claims a membership of over 325,000 members organized in 2100 local chapters , organized into local lodges, state lodges, and the national Grand Lodge...
—questioned his intentions and accused him of political grandstanding. One circuit court judge in the county even questioned Johnson's grasp of criminal law
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
after dismissing one of his cases.
County Executive
Johnson was elected county executive in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. He served until his term expired on December 6, 2010.A November 20, 2006 article in The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
detailed excessive travel expenses claimed by Johnson:
Johnson flew business class to SenegalSenegalSenegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
in December 2005 to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for homes built by a local developer. The cost of his travel was $6,003, charged to the county, and paid for by taxpayers. Johnson was quoted as saying, "I always fly business class or first class. I think the people of Prince George's County expect me to. I don't think they expect me to be riding in a seat with four across and I'm in the middle." He also generated controversy by staying at the luxurious Bellagio HotelBellagio (hotel and casino)Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the Paradise area of unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, USA and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.Inspired by the...
and The WynnWynn Las VegasWynn Las Vegas is a resort and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The US $2.7 billion resort is named after casino developer Steve Wynn and is the flagship property of Wynn Resorts Limited. The resort covers . It is located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sands Avenue Wynn Las...
when traveling to Las VegasLas Vegas metropolitan areaThe Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
for recent shopping center conventions, two of the most expensive hotels in the city.
In 2010, the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor began investigating whether Johnson and four Prince George's County council members had solicited bribes and favors while deliberating on a one-million-dollar annual lease for a county agency.
On November 12, 2010, Jack Johnson and his wife Leslie were arrested by the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
as part of the federal probe of political corruption in Prince George's. The Johnsons' were charged with witness tampering
Witness tampering
Witness tampering is harming or otherwise threatening a witness, hoping to influence his or her testimony.-Witness tampering in the USA:In the United States, the crime of witness tampering in federal cases is defined by statute at , "Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant"...
and destruction of evidence. According to court documents filed by the FBI, Johnson is accused of taking kickbacks and bribes in exchange for helping a developer secure federal funding for housing developments in Prince George's County. Johnson can be heard on a wiretap instructing Leslie to locate and flush a $100,000 check from the developer in a toilet at their home and to hide $79,600 in cash in her bra
Brassiere
A brassiere is an undergarment that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. Since the late 19th century, it has replaced the corset as the most widely accepted method for supporting breasts....
as FBI agents knocked at the door of their home with a search warrant. The Johnsons' face up to 20 years in jail for each offense, but both were released and Jack Johnson is on home detention with electronic monitoring
Electronic tagging
Electronic tagging is a form of non-surreptitious surveillance consisting of an electronic device attached to a person or vehicle, especially certain criminals, allowing their whereabouts to be monitored. In general, devices locate themselves using GPS and report their position back to a control...
. Johnson remained in office until December 6, when his term expired; Leslie was sworn in as a newly-elected county council member on the same day; however, she would not be eligible to remain in office if convicted of a felony.
On February 14, 2011, Johnson was indicted for allegedly soliciting more than $200,000 in bribes as part of a conspiracy that dates back to 2003. While Johnson is the only person named in the indictment, two unnamed developers were unnamed co-conspirators in the indictment. The indictment reports that the FBI recorded conversations between Johnson, a developer and the county director of housing where cash bribes were solicited.
On May 17, 2011, Jack Johnson agreed to a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to extortion and witness- and evidence-tampering. Following Johnson's hearing, federal prosecutors revealed that former county housing director James Johnson (no relation) and developers Mirza Hussein Ali Baig and Patrick Ricker had pleaded guilty as part of a larger corruption probe. Leslie Johnson had been scheduled to plead guilty on May 3, but the hearing was abruptly canceled. Leslie Johnson pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges on June 30, 2011.
External links
- Jack Johnson biography from the Prince George's County Government