Former Cleveland Councilman Ken Johnson sentenced to prison on federal corruption and tax charges....By editor Kathy Wray Coleman of Clevelandurbannews.com amd Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader
According to the indictment, Johnson demanded the maximum amount of $1,200 monthly for his ward from the city's coffers but could not prove how much of the money, which has allegedly been requested for several years, including in 2019, has been spent.
Prosecutors called a host of witnesses during the closely watched trial, including Johnson's adopted son, practically all of those who took the stand testifying that Johnson was shady, some saying he had them sign documents for money for work they never performed and blatantly put monies in his bank account in an arbitrary fashion.
Prosecutors also said at trial that John Hopkins, 57, the one-time director of the Buckeye-Shaker Square Development Corp who was also indicted and has since pleaded guilty to theft and conspiracy from a federal program, assisted Johnson in steering at least $100,000 to his adopted sons for work that did not perform regarding a landscaping project relative to the nonprofit.
Megan Miller, an assistant U.S. attorney, told jurors during closing arguments Thursday that Johnson is just simply a crook who took advantage of his constituents and utilized other crooks to secure undue monies on the city's dime.
Johnson’s former friend, Robert Fitzpatrick, a 35-year former city employee, was also among those indicted and pleaded guilty to conspiracy involving fraudulent expense reports the councilman filed with the city.
Both Hopkins and Fitzpatrick, once Johnson's ally, testified against the former councilman at trial.
Prosecutors accused Johnson of illegally adjusting his gross income on tax forms to attempt to justify the theft
Also at issue was what prosecutors said was Johnson's mishandling of federal and state monies regarding the Kenneth Johnson Recreation Center on Woodland Avenue, which is named after the former councilman, and is one of several city recreation centers that Fitzpatrick oversaw.
Johnson took the stand and testified on his behalf in an attempt to rebut the damaging testimony brought forth by the prosecution and said he was shocked and hurt that those who were once close to him turned on him.
Johnson's supporters say the prosecution was politically motivated by Republicans and a series of allegedly racist articles by former Plain Dealer columnist and Cleveland.com reporter Mark Naymik, and that "White council persons do the same thing but are not indicted."
Others say Johnson has misused his office for years and that the verdict fits the crimes.
Naymik left Cleveland.com in 2019 and took a reporting job with WKYC Channel 3 News in Cleveland.
Ward 4 encompasses the Buckeye area near Shaker Square along the Shaker Heights border, and the Woodland Hills and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods.
Cleveland Mayor Jackson, a four-term Black mayor who is not seeking reelection this year and a Johnson ally, has not commented on Johnson's indictment, or his convictions on 15 counts, though Council President Kelley has been critical of Johnson of his former colleague after reporters questioned him on why he overlooked Johnson's criminal activity for so many years .
Mayor Jackson and all of the city council, nearly half of its members Black, are Democrats.
Jackson is the city's third Black mayor. The offices of mayor and city council are all up for grabs this year
Clevelandurbannews.com and-Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper in Ohio and in the Midwest, and the most read independent digital news in Ohio. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.
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