Former Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson was indicted Monday on eight federal charges of conspiracy, extortion and bribery as well as tampering with a witness and evidence. Authorities say Johnson took bribes from developers seeking favorable treatment, and he and his wife attempted to cover it up.
The indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, also says Johnson conspired with 51-year-old Amrik Singh Melhi, who owned a number of liquor stores in Maryland, and others, in accepting bribes.
Johnson and his wife Leslie — now a county councilwoman — were arrested by the FBI and charged during a raid of their Mitchellville home in November. Johnson proclaimed his innocence. Leslie Johnson, who has not been indicted, was granted an extension of her preliminary court hearing until March 16.
“Pay-to-play government is not democratic government,” U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said. “Anyone who seeks benefits or approvals from the government should be evaluated on the merits, without being extorted for payments or losing out to competitors who pay bribes. Government employees flagrantly abuse the public trust when they take money in return for official acts.”
The FBI said that they secretly recorded Johnson telling his wife to flush a $100,000 check of bribes down the toilet and hide another $80,000 in her bra.
Despite the allegations, Leslie Johnson remains on the County Council. She had not been sworn in at the time of her arrest.
Jack Johnson’s attorney, William R. Martin, did not return a request for comment on Monday.
