OPERATION BLIGHTED OFFICIALS

FORMER PORT ALLEN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CONVICTED OF RACKETEERING

BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr., announced today that, in connection with the ongoing corruption investigation dubbed “Operation Blighted Officials,” JOHNNY L. JOHNSON, SR., age 62, of Port Allen, Louisiana, appeared before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph E. Tyson and pled guilty to a Bill of Information charging him with using an interstate facility in aid of racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952, and forfeiture. JOHNSON faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

In connection with his guilty plea, JOHNSON admitted that, while he was a member of the Port Allen City Council, he and another public official provided false official letters of support to two businesspeople in exchange for tickets to a suite at the Bayou Classic football game. JOHNSON received six of the tickets worth approximately $2,500.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office with assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Corey R. Amundson who serves as a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Division.

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