Most Tweeted Stories Leslie Johnson to plead guilty in federal probe
Friday - 6/24/2011, 6:47pm ET
WASHINGTON - Prince George's County Councilmember Leslie Johnson will plead guilty next week in connection with a federal corruption probe involving her husband, WTOP has learned.
A notice has been posted in federal court stating that Johnson has a plea hearing set for next Thursday morning. She faces a felony charge of conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering related to a federal corruption investigation of her husband, former Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson.
Leslie Johnson in March had signaled her intent to plead guilty but a plea hearing was indefinitely postponed without explanation.
Federal prosecutors say Leslie Johnson tried to stuff $79,000 into her underwear as federal agents sought to enter her home in November. She also was recorded talking to her husband, who was heard directing her to hide the cash and flush a $100,000 check down the toilet.
"Whatta you want me to do with the check? You hear `em banging?" Leslie Johnson can be heard asking, according to court documents. "Tear up the check....Just tear it up," he replied.
State law suggests Leslie Johnson, who was elected in November, would be suspended without pay or benefits pending sentencing after pleading guilty, and that she would have to step down after sentencing.
The Prince George's County Charter says a member of the council "shall immediately forfeit his office if he ceases to be a qualified voter of the county" -- suggesting that removal from office would occur after a felony conviction.
Jack Johnson pleaded guilty last month to shaking down developers for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and other favors in exchange for doing business with the county.
His plea was part of an ongoing, wide-ranging federal public corruption probe that has already ensnared developers and liquor store owners. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced in September. Federal sentencing guidelines call for him to receive between 11 and 13 years, though the judge is not required to sentence him within that range.
WTOP's Kate Ryan and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Kate and WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
