FBI agents arrested former Prince George’s County, Maryland Executive (and Golden Duke nominee) Jack B. Johnson and his wife Leslie Johnson over a year ago in a corruption plot involving development deals. Thanks to a federal wiretap, transcripts told us that Jack and Leslie chatted about flushing dirty money down the toilet and stuffing cash in her “panties.” Now there’s audio.
Ahead of Leslie’s sentencing on Dec. 9, federal prosecutors have disclosed tapes of Johnson and Johnson discussing — as FBI agents knocked on the door of the couple’s home — about where to hide cash they acquired though corrupt relationships with developers.
“As one of the most egregious and notorious instances of obstruction of justice in recent history, her conduct calls for a sentence that will promote respect for federal law and deter others from engaging in corruption and obstructing justice,” federal prosecutors write in a sentencing memorandum. They want a sentence “near the top” of the 12 to 18 month sentencing range.
“If not for the wiretap, Leslie Johnson may have succeeded in enabling Jack Johnson to escape prosecution for that brazen crime,” they write. Prosecutors add that her decision to stay on the public payroll after her indictment, while legal, shows she didn’t care for the public interest.
“The only interest served by the Defendant’s continued presence on the County Council was the financial interest of the Defendant,” they write.
Audio from the wiretap below:
Via ABC 7, here’s the sentencing memo:
Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.
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