The former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, Rick Johnson, is sentenced to prison for four and a half years after he pleaded guilty to accepting a hundred thousand dollars bribe for marijuana licensing.
Former Michigan Speaker, Rick Johnson (Photo: WNDU)
Rick Johnson Sentenced to Federal Prison for Medical Marijuana Licensing Bribe
Detroit Free Press reports Rick Johnson, a former Michigan House speaker has been sentenced to 55 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering in Grand Rapids after he pleaded guilty to accepting accurately $110,200 dollars in bribes for medical marijuana licenses.
Moreover, not only Rick Johnson pleaded guilty to the said bribe. Two other people also pleaded guilty to federal felony charges for orchestrating a bribery scheme during Rick Johnson’s time as the speaker of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board from year 2017 to 2019.
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“Unfettered Abuse of Power”: Beckering Stated Before Sentencing Rick Johnson
WILX reports that Beckring considered all of Rick Johnson’s criminal history before the defendant received his sentencing.
According to Jane Beckering, the corruption scheme of Rick Johnson and two others was an unfettered abuse of power. Beckering additionally stated that Rick Johnson took all the bribes to pad his pockets, feast on free meals, and satisfy his sexual desires.
Rick Johnson should have received a longer sentence of 71 months, but due to his lack of criminal records, he only received 55 months.
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