Two central figures convicted of bribing former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson in the largest public corruption scandal in Michigan's capital in 30 years have been freed from federal prison despite serving less than half of their sentences — and Johnson could soon join them.
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Marijuana industry lobbyist Vince Brown left a low-security prison in western Pennsylvania on Aug. 6, three weeks after Oakland County businessman John Dawood Dalaly was released from a minimum-security prison camp in West Virginia.
Brown served less than nine months of a 20-month sentence for conspiring to bribe Johnson, the former chairman of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board, while Dalaly was granted compassionate release from prison less than nine months into a 28-month sentence for bribing Johnson.
Clockwise from left: Rick Johnson, Vincent Brown, Brian Pierce and John Dawood Dalaly were sentenced in prison for their participation in a public corruption scheme tied to Michigan's medical marijuana licensing system.
Clockwise from left: Rick Johnson, Vincent Brown, Brian Pierce and John Dawood Dalaly were sentenced in prison for their participation in a public corruption scheme tied to Michigan's medical marijuana licensing system.
The moves raise questions about whether justice was served in a high-profile public corruption case involving bribes paid to the state's top regulator as businesses sought a competitive edge at the dawn of the Michigan marijuana industry.
“This does seem like it’s not justice,” said Matthew Abel, a criminal defense lawyer in Detroit who specializes in marijuana cases. “The legacy of these improper actions is still very much with us.”
A Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman declined to explain why Brown was released from prison. But the release of two figures in a high-profile bribery scandal continues a trend of businessmen, labor leaders and politicians from Metro Detroit being released early from federal prison after being convicted of public corruption crimes.
On Wednesday, the 71-year-old Johnson, a Republican from LeRoy, asked a federal judge to release him from prison, citing various health problems.
Johnson asked to be released from a minimum-security federal prison camp in Minnesota after serving less than nine months of a 55-month sentence. He was sentenced last fall for taking $110,200 in bribes and committing what U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering called an "unfettered abuse of power."
He is scheduled to be in prison until August 2027.
Former House Speaker Rick Johnson, second from right, leaves federal court in Grand Rapids after his sentencing in September 2023. On Wednesday, 71-year-old Johnson asked a federal judge to release him from prison, citing various health problems, after serving less than nine months of a 55-month sentence.
Former House Speaker Rick Johnson, second from right, leaves federal court in Grand Rapids after his sentencing in September 2023. On Wednesday, 71-year-old Johnson asked a federal judge to release him from prison, citing various health problems, after serving less than nine months of a 55-month sentence. Katy Batdorff, Special To The Detroit News
The sentence capped a years-long investigation into Johnson's actions as chairman of the state's medical marijuana licensing board. Nominated by then-Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof and appointed by then-Gov. Rick Snyder, Johnson, a fellow Republican, chaired the state's medical marijuana licensing board from May 2017 through April 2019. His panel had the power to influence regulations and decide which businesses could get into the market first.
Beckering said Johnson had taken advantage of his position to collect cash payments for himself, feast on free meals and satisfy his own sexual desires. The judge said Johnson had taken at least 42 bribes over 20 months, including cash payments, ranging from $1,000 to $20,000, and the services of a prostitute who called him "Batman."
Johnson’s request for compassionate release portrayed him as an ill man. He asked the warden in Minnesota for compassionate release in February, citing a list of ailments, including heart problems. The warden refused, saying Johnson had only served 4% of his sentence.
"While you have a medical condition, it is not terminal or debilitated," the warden wrote.
Next, Johnson asked the judge for compassionate release.
Federal judges are allowed to reduce an inmate’s sentence and grant compassionate release based on “extraordinary and compelling reasons" after wardens have rejected or ignored requests. Nationwide, federal judges have granted compassionate release to more than 5,310 people since fall 2019.
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