Birmingham – Fired two-year college system Chancellor Roy Johnson has agreed to plead guilty to 15 counts in a federal bribery and corruption case.
At a news conference today in Birmingham, U.S. Attorney Alice Martin said Johnson agreed to assist in an ongoing investigation of corruption in Alabama's community college program and to forfeit $18.2 million.
Prosecutors said he doesn't have that amount and will be left in debt.
The 62-year-old Johnson is a former powerful House member who ran the two-year college system from 2002 to 2006. He was accused of taking about $1 million in bribes for himself and his relatives in exchange for giving state business to companies that made millions supplying the two-year schools with everything from computer software to furniture.
As part of the scheme, Johnson received help building his $1.3 million home in Opelika.
Johnson was fired by the state school board amid concerns about nepotism and allegations of corruption. He previously had denied any wrongdoing, but plea agreements were reached in the past year with others accused of scheming with him.
Johnson's attorney, Joe Espy of Montgomery, was unavailable for comment.