GREENBELT, Md. – The former first lady of Prince George’s County will be sentenced Friday for her role in a huge corruption scandal involving her husband, former County Executive Jack Johnson.
Leslie Johnson, a former Prince George’s Councilmember and administrative law judge, faces up to 18 months in prison for her role in the pay-to-play scandal.
On Tuesday, Jack Johnson received a prison sentence of more than seven years for taking up to $1 million in bribes from developers who did business with the government. Johnson was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and forfeit $78,000 and an antique Mercedes Benz.
Leslie Johnson pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering.
She stuffed nearly $80,000 in her bra as FBI agents came to the couple’s home in November 2010. She also flushed a $100,000 check down the toilet. Agents did recover the cash from Leslie Johnson.
A sentencing memo in her case says she chose to conspire with her husband.
Federal prosecutors say Leslie Johnson should have to serve as much as sentencing guidelines allow.
“We have alleged in our sentencing memo that she was responsible for a broader range of misconduct, that she was implicated in other misconduct,” says U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein
Rosenstein would not be more specific, saying more would come out at her sentencing on Friday.
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WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this story. Follow Kate and WTOP on Twitter.
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