Former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges in a Grand Rapids courtroom Tuesday, as the judicial fallout from a medical marijuana bribery scandal in the state continues to unfold.
Johnson, 70, was the chairman of the state’s medical marijuana licensing board, which approved or denied applications from medical marijuana businesses, from 2017-19. He is charged with accepting $110,200 in cash and benefits during his time as chair.
“The intent was to influence you or reward you for decisions you made,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Phillip Green said of the bribes as he read sections of Johnson’s plea agreement with prosecutors.
He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Johnson, along with three other men charged in the probe, has agreed to fully cooperate with government prosecutors. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors have agreed not to oppose any motion from Johnson to request a two-level sentence reduction. Additionally, prosecutors have agreed to consider making their own motion to reduce Johnson’s sentence guidelines due to his cooperation.
Also as part of his plea agreement, Johnson will forfeit $110,200, the amount of the bribes he received, to the government.
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