A Prince George’s County developer pleaded guilty to bribing county officials with cash, plane tickets and prostitutes, according to a plea deal unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Thursday. Daniel Colton, 61, entered the plea on Sept. 13, 2010, admitting to conspiracy to commit extortion and to make false statements to the Federal Elections Commission. From 1997 to at least Sept. 11, 2008, the value of the bribes doled out by Colton was between $400,000 and $1 million, prosecutors said.
The plea deal is the latest evidence released in the FBI’s investigation of pay-to-play schemes in Prince George’s County, which ensnared former County Executive Jack Johnson and his wife, Councilwoman Leslie Johnson.
While prosecutors kept many of the details of the plea deal secret, the court documents mentioned bribes to unnamed officials working for the Prince George’s school board, suggesting more charges could be filed against county workers.
Jack Johnson pleaded guilty last month to one count of extortion and one count of evidence tampering, and faces up to 40 years in prison. His wife faces federal witness and evidence tampering charges. She would be removed from the council if she were found guilty of the crimes.
According to the plea deal, Colton and his co-conspirators, including an official in the Prince George’s fire department, offered bribes and campaign contributions in exchange for favorable votes and actions to benefit Greenbelt Metropark, which wanted to construct new retail and residential development around the Greenbelt Metro station. Colton and his co-conspirators had an ownership interest in Greenbelt Metropark, as well as interests in Day Homes, a company involved in several development projects in the county.
State and local officials conspired with Colton by failing to report or misrepresenting the gifts and contributions, according to the plea agreement.
Colton and his co-conspirators also recruited several “straw donors,” including family members and their employees, to make state and federal campaign donations above the legal limits. In-kind contributions, such as payments for campaign signs, food and alcohol, were also funneled to several campaign committees.
Payments were reimbursed by Colton’s private accounts as well as corporate bank accounts for Greenbelt Metropark.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office identified developer Patrick Ricker as one of Colton’s co-conspirators. Ricker’s 2009 guilty plea was unsealed the day Jack Johnson pleaded guilty.
Colton faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. His sentencing date has not been scheduled.
