Rick Johnson was the former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, serving from 2001 through 2004. Before that term in office, the Republican was Chair of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Licensing Board from 2017 through 2019.
He pled guilty to soliciting and accepting bribes in April after Michigan Federal Bureau of Investigation agents uncovered 38 payments in what prosecutors say involved three others in a bribery scheme.
Johnson, a 70-year-old from Leroy, was charged with Accepting a Bribe. He pled guilty to receiving cash in exchange for “valuable non-public information about the anticipated rules and operation of the MMLB and assistance with license application matters.”
“He received at least $110,200 in the form of direct payments, luxury travel and commercial sex.”
That’s U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten. He said Johnson used the alias “Batman” and “burner” phones to conceal the bribes and laundered the money.
“And he injected corruption into an emerging, promising, new industry where getting a head start could make all the difference.”
Totten expressed public corruption is a direct threat to democracy.
Johnson has been fined $50,000, ordered to forfeit $110,200 and sentenced to 55 months in a federal prison.
