GREENBELT, Md. — Former Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson was sentenced Tuesday to more than seven years in prison for extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from developers and accepting assorted gifts during a tenure that prosecutors say was rife with greed, corruption and an unchecked pay-to-play culture.
The investigation into Johnson, who led Prince George's County from 2002 until 2010, came to light more than a year ago when federal authorities tapping his phone heard him directing his wife to flush down the toilet an illicit $100,000 check from a developer and to stuff nearly $80,000 in cash in her undergarments. The orders came as FBI agents tried to get into the couple's home after witnesses Johnson accepting $15,000 in cash from a developer.
Since the Johnsons' arrests in November 2010, prosecutors have revealed a sweeping investigation that has touched varied corners of county life and led to charges against his wife, who was elected to the county council just before her arrest and who resigned in July, as well as police officers, liquor store owners, developers and county officials. Fifteen people have so far been convicted in investigations into county corruption, prosecutors say.
Leslie Johnson is to be sentenced this week after pleading guilty in June to conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering.
"If Jack Johnson's story were a Hollywood screenplay," U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said after the hearing, "critics would say it's too bizarre to be true."
The conviction marked a precipitous fall for Johnson, who put himself through college before becoming an IRS lawyer, the county's top prosecutor and ultimately its executive. Johnson, 62, who pleaded guilty in May, said he was "haunted" by his actions and that he had ruined his reputation and the faith that his former constituents in Prince George's — the nation's most affluent majority-black county — had placed in him.
"In my wildest dreams, I could not imagine being in a place like this. I worked so hard for the people of this county and I achieved so much," Johnson said.
He asked for mercy based on his overall record in public service and on what he said was his rapidly declining health. One of his lawyers said that Johnson, who walked with a cane Tuesday, had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and was progressively degenerating, but prosecutors say medical reports show only that his symptoms might eventually develop into Parkinson's. The judge refused to take Johnson's health into account.
The charges against him arose from a sweeping probe that revealed rampant corruption and a pervasive pay-to-play culture in the county of more than 860,000 residents, which is also home to the Washington Redskins football stadium and the massive National Harbor development along the Potomac River.
Johnson's schemes were numerous and varied, including steering millions of dollars in federal and local funds to certain developers in exchange for bribes; working to secure a job at the county hospital for an unqualified doctor at the behest of a developer who paid him bribes; and extorting campaign contributions from developers and accepting gifts. Johnson also provided favors, including favorable zoning changes and help with critical legislation, for a liquor store owner who paid him regular bribes and who contributed to his wife's campaign for county council.
He also tried to line up lucrative employment opportunities in anticipation of leaving office, striking a deal with a county hospital official to help the official obtain a high-ranking management position in exchange for Johnson being awarded a consulting agreement with a firm that would provide health care consulting for the hospital system.
"This defendant used anything and everything within his power to line his pockets," prosecutor James Crowell said.
He also lied about his crimes and tried to obstruct the investigation, authorities said. When confronted on the day of his arrest by FBI agents about $15,000 he had just received, he told them the cash was for a party celebrating the end of his tenure.
And as FBI agents zeroed in on the couple, he told his panicked wife to stow cash in her bra and to flush a $100,000 check down the toilet. Agents recovered the cash from Leslie Johnson.
U.S. District Court Judge Peter Messitte credited Johnson for his cooperation with authorities — prosecutors would not detail the help he had offered — but not for the good works and services he and his lawyers say he performed during his tenure.
"If you've done them, good for you," Messitte said. "That's what you were elected to do. You were not elected to line your pockets, you were not elected to corrupt the system the way you did."
Sentencing guidelines called for a sentence of up to 14 years, though prosecutors recommended just over seven years. Johnson's lawyers sought home confinement.
Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker III, who took office one year ago Tuesday, said the past year was difficult for the county but that he's tried to restore faith and confidence.
"Yes, we are moving forward, but I will not tolerate any person or entity slowing down our march to greatness," Baker said in a statement.
Johnson was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and forfeit $78,000 and an antique Mercedes Benz.