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Councilman Convicted of $127,200 Theft Scheme
A federal jury found Cleveland City Councilman Kenneth Johnson, 75, guilty of all 15-counts charged in an indictment related to two federal program theft schemes he organized and executed while serving as Ward 4 Councilman in the City of Cleveland.
Johnson was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit federal program theft; six counts of federal program theft; five counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns; one count of tampering with a witness and one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation. The schemes caused the City of Cleveland to issue $1,200 monthly expense reimbursement checks to Johnson totaling approximately $127,200, which were deposited into his personal bank account.
Jamison, Johnson’s Executive Assistant, worked for the City of Cleveland for over 20 years. He was convicted of 11-counts, including federal program theft, aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, tampering with a witness and falsification of records in a federal investigation. Johnson and Jamison will be sentenced on October 8, 2021.
The evidence presented at trial established that from January of 2010 through October of 2018, Johnson and Jamison devised a scheme to induce the City of Cleveland to issue reimbursement checks to Johnson for Ward 4 services that were never actually performed. Johnson was also convicted of personally benefiting from federal Community Development Funds distributed to the Buckeye Shaker Square Development Corporation (BSSDC) from the City of Cleveland.
Prosecutors proved that for calendar years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, Johnson and Jamison submitted false and fraudulent Individual Income Tax Returns to the Internal Revenue Service. The returns understated Johnson’s total income by failing to report additional income and by inflating the value of Johnson’s itemized deductions.
Jamison worked for Johnson as his Executive Assistant for over 20 years. Johnson and Jamison were indicted by a grand jury on February 18, 2021. The case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI, Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and IRS-Criminal Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Seabury Gould and Megan R. Miller.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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