Former Prince George’s County executive Jack Johnson has been released from federal prison after serving prison time on corruption charges. He was transferred to a federal halfway house in the Baltimore area, News4’s Scott MacFarlane and Tracee Wilkins report.
Former Prince George's County executive Jack Johnson has been released from federal prison after serving prison time on corruption charges, News4 has learned.
Johnson has been transferred to a federal halfway house in the Baltimore area, a public posting by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons confirms. His projected release date is June 2017.
Johnson pleaded guilty in May 2011 to two charges of corruption stemming from his actions as the county's chief elected official. He was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
The scheme, which captured nationwide attention, later also led to the imprisonment of Johnson's wife, Leslie. The former county executive was heard on a recorded phone call instructing his wife on how to hide evidence, including cash and a $100,000 check, as investigators were coming through the front door in November 2010.
As the couple discussed what to do with cash in the house, Johnson told his wife, "Put it in your panties and walk out of the house." Johnson said in court that his wife knew nothing until that day.
He also instructed his wife to get a check out of his bedroom dresser drawer -- a $100,000 bribe from a developer, according to court documents.
"Get the little box, and in the box there's a check," Jack Johnson told his wife. "Just tear it up or chew it up, or something."
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Leslie Johnson could be heard on the recording fumbling through the dresser. After finding the check, she asked her husband if he wanted her to flush it.
"Yeah," he said. "Flush that."
Leslie Johnson was charged with trying to destroy evidence for flushing the $100,000 check down the toilet and stuffing cash into her underwear when the FBI searched their home.
Authorities said when they searched her they found almost $80,000 in her underwear.
News4 was the first to report Jack Johnson's arrest.
Calls made Thursday to Jack Johnson's family members and the Bureau of Prisons were not immediately returned. Johnson's defense lawyer declined to comment.
Johnson had been incarcerated at a federal prison in Cumberland, Maryland.
The halfway house holds 60 offenders, including women, according to public records. It is operated under federal contract by the Lanham-based Volunteers of America faith-based non-profit.
U.S. Bureau of Prisons inmates are often transferred to halfway houses, which the agency calls "residential re-entry management" centers, in the months before the ends of their prison terms. Prison records show the agency treated Johnson for early onset Parkinson's symptoms.
