Jack Johnson: “Put it in Your Bra!”

The FBI’s affidavit against Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson is a fascinating document. They accuse Johnson of helping a developer get federal HOME grants for his projects in return for at least $100,000. The following excerpt from the FBI’s affidavit against Johnson details his reaction, and his wife’s reaction, as federal law enforcement closed in.

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EXCERPT FROM AFFIDAVIT

Developer A is a developer in Prince George’s County, who sought and obtained HOME funds from the County for his/her development projects in the County.

Your affiant knows through investigation, including court-authorized wiretaps, cooperating sources, and other information, that beginning as early as 2007, JACK JOHNSON obtained, under color of official right, the property of Developer A, in the form of United States currency and checks, including one check for $100,000, from Developer A and not otherwise due to JACK JOHNSON and his office, in return for JACK JOHNSON, in his capacity as County Executive, helping to secure HOME funds for Developer A’s projects in the County, and other official assistance from JACK JOHNSON in his capacity as County Executive.

On or about November 5, 2010, during an audio and video recorded meeting in the County, Developer A provided JACK JOHNSON $5,000 in United States Currency in return for JACK JOHNSON using his official influence and authority for the benefit of Developer A and his companies.

On or about November 12, 2010, during an audio and video recorded meeting in the County, Developer A provided JACK JOHNSON $15,000 in United States Currency in return for using his official influence and authority for the benefit of Developer A and his companies.

Following the November 12, 2010 payment, FBI agents entered the room where the payment took place, identified themselves as FBI agents, and asked JACK JOHNSON about the payments made to him by Developer A. JACK JOHNSON told FBI investigators that the cash was for a party marking the end of his tenure as County Executive. He further advised the FBI agents that he had no business dealings with Developer A. Based upon investigation, your affiant believes that JACK JOHNSON made a series of false statements to interviewing FBI agents regarding his relationship with Developer A and monies he had received from him.

Following this discussion of the payments to JACK JOHNSON and the relationship between him and Developer A, FBI agents conducted a search of JACK JOHNSON. They recovered from JACK JOHNSON’s person the $15,000 he had just been provided by Developer A. The agents also seized certain items from him, including his cellular telephone, which your affiant knows through investigation is assigned call number 301-520-1120, IMEI 012339006132540 (the “Target Phone”). Pursuant to the authorization by Judge Motz discussed above, FBI agents have been intercepting telephone calls over the Target Telephone since January, 2010. JACK JOHNSON was not arrested and was advised that he was free to leave. After FBI agents imaged the telephone, they returned the phone to JACK JOHNSON, who then left the area.

FBI agents had also obtained search warrants for various sites in the County from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, including a search warrant for the home of JACK JOHNSON and LESLIE JOHNSON, located at 1509 Brady Court, Mitchellville, MD 20721.

Through investigation and review of court-authorized interceptions of calls between JACK JOHNSON and LESLIE JOHNSON, your affiant knows that once JACK JOHNSON departed the site of his meetings with Developer A and the FBI agents after the search of his person, JACK JOHNSON and LESLIE JOHNSON made a series of phone calls to/from each other.

At approximately 10:10 AM, FBI agents knocked on the front door of the home of JACK JOHNSON and LESLIE JOHNSON, located at 1509 Brady Court, Mitchellville, MD 20721.

On November 12, 2010 at approximately 10:12 AM, LESLIE JOHNSON called JACK JOHNSON on the target telephone. LESLIE JOHNSON explained that “two women are at the door.” JOHNSON replied, “Don’t answer it.” JACK JOHNSON then told LESLIE JOHNSON to go upstairs in their bedroom and to go “my drawer” and you will see a “check in there that [Developer A] wrote to me.” Based on investigation your affiant believes that the check is the $100,000 check that Developer A provided to JACK JOHNSON in return for his official assistance. LESLIE JOHNSON interrupted JACK JOHNSON and asked if she should take the “cash out of here too.” JACK JOHNSON replied, “Yes.” JACK JOHNSON then told LESLIE JOHNSON to put the cash in her underwear. LESLIE JOHNSON then asked, “Where is the check? Where is the check?” JACK JOHNSON repeatedly described a box within a drawer in their bedroom. LESLIE JOHNSON is overheard shuffling through items. JACK JOHNSON then explained that the check was under the underwear drawer. LESLIE JOHNSON then asked if it was in the box where they stored liquor. JACK JOHNSON replied, “Yes.” LESLIE JOHNSON then stated, “Yes, there is a check in there.” JACK JOHNSON then stated, “Tear it up! That is the only thing you have to do.” LESLIE JOHNSON then questioned if JACK JOHNSON “had the cash down in the basement” and if JACK JOHNSON wanted her to move it also. JACK JOHNSON replied, “Put it in your bra and walk out or something, I don’t know what to do.” LESLIE JOHNSON then asked, “What do you want me to do with the check?” JACK JOHNSON replied, “Tear up the check!” LESLIE JOHNSON then stated, “they’re saying FBI Jack,” and asked, “Do you want me to put it down the toilet?” Your affiant believes that LESLIE JOHNSON is asking JACK JOHNSON if she should destroy the $100,000 check by flushing it down their toilet. JACK JOHNSON replied, “Yes, flush that.” Investigating agents overheard a flushing toilet thereafter in the background. JACK JOHNSON then told LESLIE JOHNSON to put “the cash” in her underwear. LESLIE JOHNSON then replied, “I have it in my bra.”

Thereafter, FBI agents entered the home and met LESLIE JOHNSON at the door. FBI agents then searched the person of LESLIE JOHNSON incident to her arrest and recovered $79,600 in United States Currency from her underwear.