Photo by Jim Davis. Jack B. Johnson, former county executive, speaks Tuesday outside the U.S. Distric Court in Greenbelt after pleading guilty to extortion and to witness and evidence tampering.

Published on: Wednesday, May 18, 2011

By Jim Davis

Jack B. Johnson, former county executive, pleaded guilty Tuesday, May 17 to extortion and witness and evidence tampering in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt. Six other charges against Johnson were dropped.

In pleading guilty, Johnson admitted he received a $100,000 check from a developer in exchange for helping him secure federal grant money.

On each count, Johnson can receive up to 20 years in prison, but prosecutors estimated that sentencing guidelines for Johnson would range from 10 to 13 years. Sentencing is schedule for Sept. 15.

Also, as part of Johnson’s plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit all moneys from illegal activities.

Defense attorney Billy Martin indicated he would seek a lesser term of incarceration.

After Johnson appeared in court, he said at a press conference in front of the court house in Greenbelt, “Considering our financial situation, the stress on the family, our children, we thought that it would be better. And we have pled guilty, accepted responsibility, and I want to say to all the citizens of our county that I am very sorry for what happened. You know, we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord.”

County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson, the wife of the former county executive, was not with her husband when he appeared in U.S District Court. She also was arrested in November in connection with the corruption probe, when the FBI found $79,600 in her undergarments. She still faces charges. She was scheduled to appear in court May 4, but that hearing was cancelled.

Soon after Jack Johnson left the courthouse, the court unsealed records on three other individuals involved in Johnson’s case.

On April 11, Dr. Mirza Hussain Baig, 67, of Burtonsville, pleaded guilty in U.S District Court to conspiracy to commit extortion in connection with paying bribes to Jack Johnson and James Edward Johnson, former director of the Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development, who pleaded guilty Jan. 28 to conspiracy to commit extortion. James Edward Johnson is not related to Jack Johnson.

On Dec. 30, 2009, Patrick Q. Ricker, 52, of Bowie, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit honest services fraud to make false statements to the Federal Election Commission and to tax evasion.

Jack Johnson served as county executive from 2002 to 2010. Before then, Johnson served as the county’s state’s attorney from 1994 to 2002.