Thanks to OpenCdA commenter Justinian for the heads-up that former Prince George’s County, Maryland, county executive Jack Johnson has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his part in an extensive public corruption scheme.

The Washington Times reports that U.S. District Court Judge Peter J. Messitte summarized the severity of Johnson’s corruption thus:  “This was not a single act of bribery.  This was not a simple wrong turn. This was a deliberate march down a long path of kleptocracy.”

At his sentencing hearing, Johnson pleaded for mercy, citing a recent diagnosis of some form of Parkinsonism.

Johnson also cited a litany of the “good works” he had performed as the county’s prosecutor and county executive.   In response to this particular justification for mercy, Judge Messitte’s reply was right on the money:  “”If you’ve done them, good for you.  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.”

Judge Messitte’s response was concise and to the point.  It needs to be digested by public officials throughout the United States.  Working for your constituents, all of them and not just a select few, is what you were elected to do.  You were not elected to line your pockets, and you were not elected to corrupt the system for your own personal profit.

So long, Jack.

Public corruption investigations and prosecutions are interesting.  They often reveal that the corrupt public officials were able to steal from their friends and neighbors so easily because those same friends and neighbors thought the crooks were pillars of the community and above reproach.

Here is the Internal Revenue Service’s summary of the case against Prince George’s County, Maryland, developer Karl Granzow, Jr.   Reading the summary is about as interesting as watching cement dry.  Just another crooked Maryland developer, right?

Not quite.  Here’s a little more about Karl Granzow, Jr.  (more…)

In late 2010 OpenCdA put up a series of posts about two Prince George’s County, Maryland, public officials, Jack Johnson and his wife Leslie,  who had been arrested by the FBI on numerous charges of public corruption.   Prior to his arrest, Jack Johnson had been the P.G. County Prosecuting Attorney and most recently the county’s Administrator.  Johnson’s  wife Leslie was a P.G. County Councilwoman.

Both Johnsons are scheduled to be sentenced in December.  Here is a link to the 76-page sentencing memorandum prepared by the US Attorney for the District of Maryland.  It reveals just how corrupt these trusted, well-respected, highly-regarded members of the Prince George’s County community were.  It reveals how Jack and Leslie Johnson betrayed the trust and confidence of their constituents and their friends.  It is a primer explaining how public officials can develop a sense of entitlement, omnipotence, and  arrogant disdain for their constituents and trusting friends. (more…)

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The Washington Times newspaper is reporting today that former Prince George’s County (Maryland) Executive Jack Johnson has decided to plead guilty to two felony public corruption charges.  Today’s story was headlined Johnson pleads guilty to public corruption charges.

Johnson, a former Prince George’s County Prosecuting Attorney, had solicited bribes in what federal officials characterized as a “pay to play” scheme.  (more…)

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This article in today’s Gazette.Net – Maryland Community News Online has a rather vanilla title:  Widespread Investigation Unfolds in County.    It starts with a by now familiar update of the continually expanding federal investigation into public corruption in Prince George’s County, Maryland.  It talks about the County Executive Jack Johnson and his County Councilwoman-elect wife Leslie who allegedly accepted bribes from developers to help secure federal HUD money for their projects.  It talks about the corrupt police officers being paid to protect black market activities.

But then the article touches on something many people who tolerate, support, and participate in public corruption often overlook:  There are consequences beyond disgrace and prison.  (more…)

The corruption case against Prince George’s County (Maryland) Executive Jack Johnson and his wife took another interesting turn just hours ago.  Nine more people, including three Prince George’s County police officers have been arrested by federal authorities.  According to the Washington Post online article [updated article linked 11-16-2010], these arrests are in connection with the federal corruption cases against the Johnsons, Jack and Leslie.   That connection alleged in the Post article is not confirmed in the press release from the Office of the US Attorney for the District of Maryland.

In Maryland, police functions at the county level are usually performed by a police agency separate from the county sheriff’s office which has custodial and civil duties.  The PG County Police Department is completely separate from the PG County Office of the Sheriff.

Addendum on 11-17-2010:  The Wednesday, November 17  Washington Post story strongly suggests the official corruption in Prince George’s County goes beyond the County Executive Jack Johnson, his County Councilman-elect wife, and the PG County Police.

Yesterday’s OpenCdA.com post about the arrest of Prince George’s County (Maryland) Executive Jack Johnson explains the allegations leading to his and his wife’s arrests by the FBI on charges relating to public corruption.

Today’s Washington Post story titled Jack Johnson’s arrest shows development as a blessing and a curse provides insight into how public officials’ conduct evolves into misconduct when big money is at stake.

In our own area, we need to be watchful not only of our elected officials’ conduct but the conduct of “unpaid volunteers” appointed by those officials to commissions and committees.  They are often in positions to make official recommendations which financially benefit themselves or the elected officials who appointed them.

Both the Washington Post and the Washington Times are reporting that Prince George’s County (Maryland) Executive Jack Johnson (shown left) and his wife, herself a Prince George’s County councilman-elect, were arrested on corruption charges by the Federal Bureau of Investigation today.

From the November 12, 2010, press release issued by the US Attorney for the District of Maryland:

“According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, the FBI initiated an investigation into allegations that certain real estate developers in Prince George’s County, Maryland were bribing public officials in exchange for official acts favorable to the developers and their companies. The affidavit alleges that this and a related investigation led to a series of wiretap orders from September 2009 to the present.

The Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development (“DHCD”) administered the HOME Investment Partnerships program, which provides federal grants to states and localities to fund the construction, purchase and/or rehabilitation of affordable housing for rent or home-ownership. According to the complaint, the Director of DHCD has the authority to recommend which developers should receive HOME funds for development projects in the County. A developer with projects in Prince George’s County sought and obtained HOME funds from the County for the developer’s projects. The complaint alleges that Jack Johnson received cash and checks, including a $100,000 check, from the developer in return for Johnson’s help, in his official capacity as County Executive, in securing HOME funds for the developer’s projects.”  (more…)