Crime
D.C. schools cop faces sentence for bribes in parking lot scam
By: Scott McCabe
Examiner Staff Writer
January 4, 2009
A D.C. Public Schools police officer is scheduled to be sentenced Monday for taking kickbacks from a parking lot operation.
Shawn B. Armstead, 37, pleaded guilty in October to accepting bribes in exchange for looking the other way and not shutting down an unauthorized parking business. Armstead, of Laurel, faces two-and-a half years in prison, according to sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors have asked for two years.
Last summer, Armstead and another D.C. schools police officer, Shawn M. Johnson, 38, were called to investigate a report that a man was charging vehicles to park on the property of Eastern Senior High School, at 1700 East Capitol St. NE. The operator, who was not affiliated with the school, was charging for events on and off the campus and did not have a permit.
The officers showed up in uniform and threatened to close the business unless the operator paid them 25 percent of his profits, documents said. While Johnson explained how the arrangement would work, Armstead drew out his baton, expanded it and tapped it “threateningly,” according to the documents.
The special officers, who are granted police powers by the Metropolitan Police Department, also agreed to provide cover for the operator to continue to use the parking lot when he was unable to get authorization, documents said.
The parking attendant paid $120, then called the FBI.
Over the next several weeks, Armstead and Johnson twice made arrangements to obtain payments from the same individual, subsequently raising the bribe to $650 and then $800. The officers explained that their “price” was going up because the parking operation was unauthorized, documents said.
Armstead had worked as a special police officer since 1997, and was hired by the District of Columbia government in 2005 and earned $60,000. He was fired after pleading guilty, authorities said.
Johnson, 37, of Laurel, pleaded guilty to the same charges, but his sentencing was moved from Monday to a later date.
Shawn B. Armstead, 37, pleaded guilty in October to accepting bribes in exchange for looking the other way and not shutting down an unauthorized parking business. Armstead, of Laurel, faces two-and-a half years in prison, according to sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors have asked for two years.
Last summer, Armstead and another D.C. schools police officer, Shawn M. Johnson, 38, were called to investigate a report that a man was charging vehicles to park on the property of Eastern Senior High School, at 1700 East Capitol St. NE. The operator, who was not affiliated with the school, was charging for events on and off the campus and did not have a permit.
The officers showed up in uniform and threatened to close the business unless the operator paid them 25 percent of his profits, documents said. While Johnson explained how the arrangement would work, Armstead drew out his baton, expanded it and tapped it “threateningly,” according to the documents.
The special officers, who are granted police powers by the Metropolitan Police Department, also agreed to provide cover for the operator to continue to use the parking lot when he was unable to get authorization, documents said.
The parking attendant paid $120, then called the FBI.
Over the next several weeks, Armstead and Johnson twice made arrangements to obtain payments from the same individual, subsequently raising the bribe to $650 and then $800. The officers explained that their “price” was going up because the parking operation was unauthorized, documents said.
Armstead had worked as a special police officer since 1997, and was hired by the District of Columbia government in 2005 and earned $60,000. He was fired after pleading guilty, authorities said.
Johnson, 37, of Laurel, pleaded guilty to the same charges, but his sentencing was moved from Monday to a later date.
