The previous head of a Michigan medical hashish licensing board on Thursday pleaded responsible to accepting $110,000 in bribes in change for trade licenses, CBS News experiences. Rick Johnson served as head of the board for 2 years and served as state Home speaker from 2001-2004 when Republicans managed the chamber.
Throughout a press convention on Thursday, U.S. Legal professional Mark Totten introduced the costs towards Johnson, John Dalaly, Brian Pierce, and Vincent Brown. All 4 signed plea offers admitting the costs.
Dalaly, who was granted a medical hashish license throughout Johnson’s tenure, pleaded responsible to offering not less than $68,200 in money and different advantages to Johnson, together with two personal flights to Canada, in keeping with courtroom paperwork outlined by CBS Information.
Pierce and Brown have been lobbyists who additionally pleaded responsible to conspiring to move bribes to the previous lawmaker.
“Public corruption is a poison to any democracy. … That poison is particularly poisonous right here. The marijuana trade has been likened to a modern-day gold rush, a brand new frontier the place members can stake their declare and simply possibly return massive rewards.” — Totten, throughout a press convention, through CBS Information
All 4 males are anticipated to be arraigned within the subsequent one to 2 weeks, Politico experiences. Johnson and Dalaly face a most of 10 years in jail and a advantageous of $250,000. Pierce and Brown face a most of 5 years in jail and a advantageous of $250,000.
Below the plea settlement, Johnson agreed to forfeit the $110,000 in bribes and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace agreed to not oppose his request for a discount in offense degree, which might impression his sentencing.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), in 2019, abolished the medical hashish board and put oversight of the trade inside a state company.
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