A former Prince George’s County housing director was sentenced to more than three years in prison for his role in an extortion scheme with disgraced former County Executive Jack Johnson.
James Johnson, 67, who is not related to Jack Johnson, was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and to forfeit $46,300 that was seized from his safe deposit box.
Recommended Stories
Prosecutors said James Johnson received $400,000 and $1 million in bribes from developers. In exchange, James Johnson secured millions in state and federal grants, acquired property from the county for favored developers Patrick Ricker and Dr. Mirza Baig.
Jack Johnson, 63, was previously sentenced to more than seven years for extortion, tampering with a witness and tampering with evidence.
Baig, 68, of Burtonsville, and Ricker, 53, of Bowie, pleaded guilty in the conspiracy and each faces a maximum of five years in prison.
Fifteen of 16 defendants have been convicted in the wide-ranging public corruption investigation in Prince George’s County.
