Bertram "Bert" Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 2nd district | |
| In office January 1, 2011 –March 2, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Martha G. Scott |
| Succeeded by | Adam Hollier |
| Member of the MichiganHouseofRepresentatives from the 5th district | |
| In office January 1,2007 –January 1,2011 | |
| Preceded by | William McConico |
| Succeeded by | John Olumba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 20,1973 Detroit,Michigan,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | India,Bertram,Nicholas and David |
| Residence | Highland Park,Michigan |
| Alma mater | University of Detroit Mercy |
| Website | Official Website |
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. From 2007 to 2010,Johnson served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Johnson attended the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. He studied Criminology and Security Administration at the University of Detroit Mercy. [1]
In 1993,as a teenager,Johnson plead guilty to charged of a break in and armed robbery at a country club. He was sentenced to eight months in prison and three years on probation. [2]
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. [3] FBI agents seized a 12-gauge shotgun and a Remington 16-gauge shotgun from Banks's home,but did not say whether they were his. [4]
In April 2017,Johnson was indicted by a grand jury on federal charges of conspiracy and theft,for using federal funds to pay for a ghost employee. [5] Due to his indictment,a recall petition was filed against Johnson by Robert Davis. [6] 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. [7] In February 2018,Johnson rejected an initial plea deal and requested to go to trial. [8] On March 2,2018,Johnson pled guilty to theft and resigned from his senate seat. [9]
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. [10]
Johnson was evicted from his campaign office in 2010. [2]
The "Consensus PAC" linked to Johnson and started by a former staffer owes $11,775. The Michigan Secretary of State referred $9,775 of that amount to the state Treasury Department for collection. [2]
From 2001 to 2006,Johnson worked as chief of staff to then-Representative Bill McConico. [2]
Succeeding Martha G. Scott,Johnson was elected as a Michigan State Senator for District 2. [1] After the election,Johnson was named the campaign chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. [11]
Johnson ran for the U.S. House in 2012,but lost the Democratic primaries to John Conyers. Johnson would then go on to chair Conyer's 2014 re-election campaign. [2]
