Former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson will continue serving his 55-month prison sentence without any reduction or early release, as ruled by U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering. Johnson, who was implicated in a major public corruption scandal involving the state's cannabis industry, sought to have his sentence shortened based on changes to federal sentencing guidelines. However, the judge determined that Johnson had already benefited from these guidelines at the time of his sentencing and did not merit further leniency.
Johnson, a 71-year-old Republican from LeRoy, has been incarcerated at a minimum-security federal prison camp in Duluth, Minnesota, since December. He requested that his sentence be reduced to 41 months, with the remainder to be served under home confinement starting in March 2025. This plea was denied, with Judge Beckering emphasizing that the relief Johnson sought was already granted when he was initially sentenced.
This case stems from Johnson's tenure as chairman of the state's medical marijuana licensing board from May 2017 to April 2019. During this period, Johnson accepted over $110,000 in bribes from cannabis industry lobbyists and a businessman, seeking to influence the licensing process in favor of certain businesses. His corrupt practices, which Judge Beckering described as an "unfettered abuse of power," involved taking cash payments, enjoying complimentary meals, and engaging in illicit activities, including liaisons with a sex worker.
The scandal represents one of the largest instances of public corruption in Michigan's capital in the last 30 years. In addition to Johnson, other key figures involved received prison sentences: businessman John Dawood Dalaly received 28 months, while lobbyists Brian Pierce and Vince Brown were sentenced to two years and 20 months, respectively.
Johnson's projected release date remains September 2027, maintaining the original terms of his sentence.
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