Bert Johnson

Bertram "Bert" Johnson (born October 20, 1973) is a Democratic former member of the Michigan Senate.

Johnson previously represented the 2nd district, which comprises northeast Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and all five Grosse Pointe Communities.

On May 27, 1993, Johnson participated in the break-in and armed robbery of a cash box from the Oakland Hills Country Club, where he worked a caddy.

Johnson pleaded "no contest" to felony charges of armed robbery and breaking and entering and was sentenced to eight months in prison, followed by three years on probation.

Johnson was not allowed to own firearms due to his 1993 felony conviction.

From 2007 to 2010, Johnson served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives.

Johnson attended University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy.

He subsequently attended the University of Detroit Mercy, where he studied Criminology and Security Administration.

In April 2007, Johnson was spotted leaving the state Capitol behind the wheel of a 2001 Jaguar despite having a suspended license and an invalid plate.

Johnson was evicted from his campaign office in 2010.

In October 2013, Johnson asked Thornton for a $30,000 loan, she said no. Johnson then asked Thornton for $20,000.

Again, the answer was "no."

Johnson tried a third time asking for $10,000, which Thornton granted.

Over the next five months, Thornton sought repayment for the loan, but Johnson didn't have the money.

Sometime in March 2014, Johnson proposed to Thornton that he could repay her his personal loan by putting Thornton on his Michigan Senate Office payroll for repayment.

Thornton agreed to Johnson's plan and Thornton was hired as a "community liaison" on March 28, 2014.

Thornton was paid $22 an hour for her no-show job.

Three days after putting Thornton on his Senate payroll, Johnson asked her for an additional $4,000.

Thornton had an employee issue a check, cash it and give the money to the Johnson.

By October 2014, Johnson needed more money.

He asked Thornton for $3,000 cash for payment of his property taxes.

Johnson picked up the cash from Thornton's home and repaid this loan."

Thornton secretly recorded a conversation with Johnson regarding the scheme at his home in November 2015.

Federal prosecutors sought a 12-month prison sentence, but U.S. District Judge Matthew Leitman sentenced Johnson to only 90 days in jail.

Johnson was also ordered to pay $23,134 in restitution to the state.

Thornton remained on the Johnson's payroll until January 2015.

In all, she received $23,205 but provided no work.

Three hours after admitting he stole from the taxpayers, Johnson submitted his resignation from his Senate seat.

On March 27, 2017, Johnson's home and Senate office were searched in a raid jointly conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Michigan State Police.

During the raid, FBI agents seized a Western Field 12-gauge shotgun and a Remington 16-gauge shotgun.

In April 2017, Johnson was indicted by a grand jury on federal charges of conspiracy and theft, for using federal funds to pay a "ghost employee" on his Senate payroll who did no actual work.

Due to his indictment, a recall petition was filed against Johnson by Robert Davis.

On April 18, 2017, Johnson was arraigned in front of Magistrate David R. Grand in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, pleaded not guilty and was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bail.

In February 2018, federal prosecutors offered Johnson a plea deal.

The deal involved Johnson pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit theft from a federally funded program, a charge punishable by up to five years in federal prison.

In return, prosecutors would have dropped a second theft charge, a 10-year felony.

Johnson rejected this plea deal and requested to go to trial.

On March 2, 2018, Johnson pled guilty to conspiracy to commit theft, admitting that he put a "ghost employee" on the Senate payroll for almost a year, paying her $23,000 for no work.

The "ghost employee", Glynis Thornton, cooperated with authorities after getting targeted in another corruption scheme involving state-run Detroit Education Achievement Authority principals who took bribes.

In a one-sentence letter, Johnson wrote: "It is with profound regret that I tender my resignation, effective March 2, 2018."