Former Cleveland City Councilperson Sentenced To Prison

CLEVELAND — Former Cleveland City Councilperson Kenneth Johnson was sentenced to prison for theft and lying to investigators.

He was sentenced to six years in jail and ordered to pay $746,000 in restitution on Friday.

In late July, Johnson was found guilty of conspiracy to commit federal program theft, federal program theft, aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, tampering with a witness and falsification of records.

Live in Cleveland? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone.

Between January 2010 and October 2018, court documents said, Johnson reimbursed a man for work in his ward that the man never actually did. The city of Cleveland issued $1,200 monthly checks to Johnson, depositing the money into his bank account.

Johnson was also taking money from federal Community Development Funds, court documents said.

Between December 2013 and March 2018, the Shaker Square Development Corporation issued $50,000 in checks, to third parties, which were then deposited into bank accounts controlled by Johnson. Johnson and his family were barred by federal regulations from receiving those funds.

Finally, the IRS accused Johnson of submitted false tax returns between 2014 and 2018.