Jack B. Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack B. Johnson
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| 6th Executive of Prince George's County | |
| In office December 2, 2002 – December 6, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Wayne K. Curry |
| Succeeded by | Rushern Baker |
| Constituency | Prince George's County |
| State's Attorney of Prince George's County | |
| In office August 1994 – December 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Alexander Williams Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Glenn Ivey |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jack Bruce Johnson
April 3, 1949 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Leslie Johnson |
| Education | Benedict College (BBA) Howard University (JD) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1970–1976 |
Jack Bruce Johnson (born April 3, 1949) is a former American politician and lawyer. He served as a state's attorney in Maryland and later as the county executive for Prince George's County, Maryland, from 2002 to 2010. He was first elected as state's attorney in November 1994. His time as county executive lasted from December 2002 until December 2010.
In November 2010, Mr. Johnson and his wife faced serious legal issues concerning their public duties. He later admitted to certain actions that were not allowed for someone in his position. He served time in a federal prison and was released from federal supervision in June 2017.
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Early Life and Education
Jack Johnson grew up on Johns Island, South Carolina, which is near Charleston, South Carolina. He was the fifth of ten children. His mother worked as a maid, and his father was a farmer who grew various vegetables. He attended a high school where students of different races were kept separate. He has said this experience greatly shaped his views when he was young.
In 1970, Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Benedict College. This is a special type of school known as an historically black college. He also served in the United States Army from 1970 to 1976. After college, he wanted a job where he could "wear a suit." This led him to work in the accounting department of a life insurance company in New York City.
Johnson later went back to school and graduated from Howard University School of Law in 1975. He then began a legal career with the Internal Revenue Service, working there for almost ten years. From 1984 to 1987, he was also a professor teaching tax law at North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Career in Public Service
Becoming State's Attorney
In 1985, Jack Johnson started his journey in politics. He helped his friend from law school, Alexander Williams Jr., with his campaign for the State's Attorney office in Prince George's County. Williams won, becoming the first African American to be elected to a county-wide position there. After winning, Williams hired Johnson as his Deputy State's Attorney. In this role, Johnson helped manage the office and its budget.
In 1994, Williams was appointed as a federal judge, which left the State's Attorney position open. Johnson decided to run for the job, surprising many people. However, he had built strong connections in the community. He won the Democratic primary election by a large margin and then easily won the general election that November.
As the top prosecutor in Prince George's County, Johnson focused on making sure police actions were fair. He took strong steps to address concerns about how officers treated people. He even removed some deputy state's attorneys who did not want to pursue cases against officers. His actions brought both praise and criticism. Supporters said he was seeking justice, while others, including the police union, questioned his motives.
Leading Prince George's County
Jack Johnson was elected as the county executive in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. He served in this important role until his term ended on December 6, 2010. As county executive, he was responsible for leading the county government and making decisions that affected all its residents.
A newspaper article in 2006 discussed some of Johnson's travel expenses. For example, he flew business class to Senegal for an event, with the cost charged to the county. He explained that he believed the people of Prince George's County expected him to travel comfortably. He also stayed at expensive hotels like the Bellagio and The Wynn during trips to Las Vegas for business meetings.
Legal Challenges
In 2010, authorities began looking into how some decisions were made in Prince George's County. On November 12, 2010, Jack Johnson and his wife, Leslie, were arrested by the FBI. They faced charges related to how they handled information and evidence during the investigation.
According to court documents, Johnson was accused of receiving benefits in exchange for helping a developer with housing projects. During the investigation, Johnson was heard on a recording telling his wife to get rid of a check and hide cash as FBI agents arrived at their home. The Johnsons were released, but Jack Johnson was placed under home supervision. He remained in office until his term ended in December. Leslie Johnson, who had just been elected to the county council, could not keep her position if she was found guilty of a serious crime.
In February 2011, Johnson faced more charges related to receiving money improperly. Investigators said they had recorded conversations between Johnson, a developer, and a county housing director.
On May 17, 2011, Johnson agreed to a plea deal. He admitted to certain actions that were not allowed for someone in his public role, and to trying to prevent an investigation. Other people involved in the situation also admitted to their roles. Leslie Johnson later admitted to her part in the issues on June 30, 2011.
On December 6, 2011, Johnson was sentenced to seven years and three months in a federal prison in North Carolina. He also had to pay a fine. He served most of his sentence at the Cumberland Federal Correctional Institution. On December 15, 2016, he was moved to a halfway house near Baltimore. He was fully released from federal supervision in June 2017, after serving more than five years, with some time reduced for good behavior.
Personal Life
Jack Johnson lived with his wife, Leslie Johnson, and his three children in Mitchellville, Maryland. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
