PG County Executive, Wife Charged With Tampering
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (WJZ/AP) ―Checks flushed and cash stuffed in underwear. All part of a frantic phone conversation investigators say Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson and his wife had Friday morning at the FBI was knocking on their front door.
Kelly McPherson explains the charges Johnson is facing.
Prince George's County's top official and his wife were accused Friday of tampering with evidence after agents tapping his cell phone heard him tell her to flush a $100,000 check from a developer down the toilet and hide nearly $80,000 cash in her underwear as FBI agents were at their door, according to an affidavit.
County Executive Jack Johnson, whose second term expires next month, and his wife, Leslie, who was recently elected to the County Council, were charged with witness and evidence tampering and destruction, alteration and falsification of records in a federal investigation. Jack Johnson said Friday night he was innocent of the charges.
Jim Karey, a spokesman for Johnson, said federal authorities executed search warrants Friday at the county administration building. Karey defended Johnson's record, calling him "a good man" and "if not the greatest, then one of the greatest local politicians in the area."
"He's brought a lot of development and jobs here," Karey said.
The investigation related to allegations that some real estate developers in the county were bribing public officials in exchange for official acts favorable to certain developers and their companies.
The Johnsons could be heard on the phone by FBI agents discussing how to get rid of evidence, after agents came knocking at their Mitchellville home on Friday, according to an affidavit from investigators.
After Johnson told his wife, "Don't answer it," he instructed her over the phone to go upstairs to their bedroom and destroy the check, the affidavit said.
Authorities say they were not planning on arresting Jack Johnson on Friday, but found out he was allegedly trying to flush material down the toilet.
"Tear it up! That is the only thing you have to do," Johnson told his wife, according to the affidavit.
Leslie Johnson then could be heard asking her husband, "Do you want me to put it down the toilet?"
The county executive responded, "Yes, flush that," according to the affidavit, which noted that monitoring agents heard a flushing sound in the background.
Johnson then told his wife to put cash in her underwear, according to the affidavit. After FBI agents entered the home, they searched Leslie Johnson and recovered $79,600 from her underwear.
The Johnsons were arrested at home and released later under the supervision of pretrial services. Jack Johnson was placed on home detention with electronic monitoring. They both face a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Governor Martin O'Malley issued this statement Friday, following the arrest and charging of Jack Johnson: "This is a sad day for Prince George's County, and for County Executive Johnson and his family. Now more than ever, it's important that all of us who have worked together to move the County forward renew our efforts and continue on our path of progress, even in difficult times."
Jack Johnson said after he was released: "To all the citizens of Prince George's County, you know me. I've served you long and I've served you well and most of you know me well. I cannot go into these allegations because my lawyers will kill me if I do. I'm innocent of these charges. I just can't wait for the facts to come out. When they come out, I am absolutely convinced that we will be vindicated."
Roland Patterson, Leslie Johnson's attorney, said she is asking for prayers and support "through the ordeal of fighting to disprove the allegations that are pending against her now."
Jack Johnson is being represented by attorney William Martin.
FBI agents said in an affidavit that they learned through an investigation started nearly five years ago that real estate developers based in Prince George's and their associates were regularly providing things of value to public officials in exchange for favors to them and their companies.
That investigation and another one related to it led U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz to authorize a series of wiretaps, starting in September 2009.
"Those interceptions confirmed, among other things, investigators' information concerning official corruption and extortion in Prince George's County," the affidavit said.
After agents had heard about cash changing hands for favors at a November meeting between Johnson and a developer, FBI agents entered the room where a separate payment had taken place on Friday, identified themselves and asked him about the payments.
Johnson reportedly told the agents the payments were for a party marking the end of his tenure -- and that he had no business dealings with the developer.
U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said authorities have tapped Jack Johnson's phone since January 2010. This has been a lengthy investigation involving the FBI and the IRS, he said, and prosecutors expect more charges to be filed and more people to be charged.
Jack Johnson, 61, has been county executive since 2002; his term ends in three weeks. The Democrat was the county state's attorney for eight years before that. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Johnson attended Benedict College and got his law degree from Howard University, where his wife was also a law student.
Leslie Johnson, 58, worked for the District of Columbia government for nearly three decades before running for a seat on the council. She has been honored for her work in education and for a program she co-founded that provides support for women in jail.
The couple has three children and has lived in the house, worth $428,720, for 22 years. As county executive, Johnson makes $174,539 a year.
The U.S. attorney could not say if the Johnsons face other charges or name any other politicians that may be involved in the investigation.
Stay with WJZ.COM for complete coverage of the arrest of the County Executive Jack Johnson.
