Fight Fraud, Corruption In Hurricane Recovery
By
Associated Press
Published: Thu, January 24, 2008 - 12:32 pm
Last Updated: Thu, January 24, 2008 - 12:38 pm
Last Updated: Thu, January 24, 2008 - 12:38 pm
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Fired two-year college system Chancellor
Roy Johnson has agreed to plead guilty to 15 counts in a federal
bribery and corruption case.
At a news conference today in Birmingham, U.S. Attorney Alice
Martin said Johnson agreed to assist in an ongoing investigation of
corruption in Alabama's community college program and to forfeit
$18.2 million.
Prosecutors said he doesn't have that amount and will be left in
debt.
The 62-year-old Johnson is a former powerful House member who
ran the two-year college system from 2002 to 2006. He was accused
of taking about $1 million in bribes for himself and his relatives
in exchange for giving state business to companies that made
millions supplying the two-year schools with everything from
computer software to furniture.
As part of the scheme, Johnson received help building his $1.3
million home in Opelika.
Johnson was fired by the state school board amid concerns about
nepotism and allegations of corruption. He previously had denied
any wrongdoing, but plea agreements were reached in the past year
with others accused of scheming with him.
Johnson's attorney, Joe Espy of Montgomery, was unavailable for
comment.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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