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Your Voices: Jack Johnson Scheming

What has the scandal meant to you as a Prince George's County resident?

Former Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson, who choreographed one of the most deplorable corruption scandals in the history of Maryland, according to federal officials, will be sentenced Tuesday.

Johnson was arrested in November 2010 for accepting bribes in return for political favors. , extortion and witness evidence tampering.

According to the sentencing memo obtained by The Washington Post, federal prosecutors call the pay-to-play scheme “one of the most egregious and notorious instances of corruption and obstruction of justice in Maryland history.”

His wife, former county Councilwoman Leslie Johnson is set to be sentenced on Friday for her involvement, according to The Washington Post.

But even after jail time and fines are paid, can Prince George’s County live down the words “?” Will the county be able to detach itself from the identifying characteristic of corruption, and move on? As residents of the county, what has this incident meant to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Thirl Crudup December 5, 2011 at 01:45 am
Prince George's County will never detach itself from the identifying characteristic of corruption. Why? Because corruption is a way of life in the County just as crime and a poor performing school system is a way of life. This incident simply means corruption is still alive and well in Prince George's County as it always has been.
AndThenAgain December 5, 2011 at 05:15 am
If the judge fails to throw the book---and hard---at Johnson, I doubt there will be much deterrent value in this case. After all, look how nearly all the significant ethical reforms stalled or evaporated in both Annapolis or Upper Marlboro.
PG: Love it or leave it? 'Leave it' is more attractive these days....
Michael B. Cron December 5, 2011 at 05:20 am
I truly hope that his sentence fits the crime that he has committed. This should also serve as a warning to our current elected officials that the citizens of Prince George’s County who elected them into office deserve nothing less than honest hard working administrators who put their constituent’s best interests first!
Timothy December 5, 2011 at 12:02 pm
The article says Johnson was arrested in November, but it should make clear it was in November of 2010.
Shannon Hoffman December 5, 2011 at 01:51 pm
Thanks. I'll make that clearer.
Glenn Harris December 5, 2011 at 02:57 pm
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men. (Lord Acton, 1887)
Mr. Johnson apparently disproves this statement, because he didn't - so far as we know - have absolute power, but he certainly is absolutely corrupt.
GLO December 5, 2011 at 04:02 pm
Until residents of PGC stop accepting betrayal of public trust, greed, and corruption as "forgivable", taxpayers will continue to be bilked by these thieves, and crime will pay. I'm surprised that developers would even consider Prince Georges County, especially after watching the way those in high office were able to continuously shake down those who took the risk. Jack Johnson deserves a stiff sentence (as a warning to others and new beginning for the county), and his arrogant, greedy wife does too. Rushern Baker seems like a good and honorable man. I hope he has an ethic's commission study and revamp the culture and systems of the county government.
Big Wayne December 5, 2011 at 07:02 pm
I'm starting to hear more and more what He/She did might be considered unethical but is within the law, the political loophole defense. We need mandatory 10 year sentences for anyone who violates the public trust in addition to loss of their retirement benefits. This includes retirees who retire prior to conviction or a retiree found to have committed any act that violated the public trust during active service. I think this would weed out several career politicians

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