Grand Jury: Enough Evidence to Bind Johnson Over to Trial

According to an eight count indictment handed down this afternoon, from 2003 through Nov. 12, 2010, former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson conspired with, among others, Maryland liquor store owner Amrik Singh Melhi, to accept bribes in exchange for Johnson and other public officials to perform favorable actions that benefitted Melhi, developers and business people.

In November, a complaint was filed against Johnson. Today, a federal grand jury found that there was enough evidence to bind Johnson over to trial.

According to uscourts.gov, a grand jury, which normally consists of 16 to 23 members, has a specialized function. The United States attorney, the prosecutor in federal criminal cases, presents evidence to a grand jury for them to decide if there is enough evidence that an individual has committed a crime and should be put on trial. If the grand jury decides that the evidence is sufficient, it will issue an indictment against a defendant. Grand jury proceedings are not open for public observation.

Johnson's wife Leslie was charged by criminal complaint in November with tampering with a witness and evidence relating to the commission of a federal offense; and destruction, alteration and falsification of records in a federal investigation after she allegedly flushed a $100,000 check down the toilet and stuffed $79,600 inside her underwear in an attempt to conceal both from the FBI, who was at her house when this occurred.

A spokesperson for Leslie Johnson, who is now a member of the County Council, said they had no comment earlier this evening. A representative from her office said "It [is] not Prince George's County government business, so there would be no reaction or comment."

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.