FORMER CHANCELLOR OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
PLEADS GUILTY TO CORRUPTION CHARGES

Alice H. Martin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, Richard Minor, Acting Attorney General of Alabama, Carmen Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation and James D. Vickery, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations announce that ROY JOHNSON, 62, of Opelika, Alabama pleaded guilty today to fifteen counts of a federal information on charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering and witness tampering. Johnson's information also contained a forfeiture count wherein the United States sought and Johnson agreed to forfeit more than eighteen million dollars comprising the proceeds of the criminal activity of Johnson and his coconspirators.

"Former Chancellor Johnson committed crimes of greed not need, and in doing so set a culture of corruption and entitlement into action in the Post Secondary system," stated United States Attorney, Alice H. Martin. "We continue to investigate others who joined him in that culture."

Acting Alabama Attorney General Richard J. Minor stated, "The abuse of trust covered by today's plea is astounding. The conduct of former Chancellor Johnson and others has eroded the public's trust in her public officials. With today's plea, we continue the process of holding accountable those who exploit the privilege of serving the public for an almighty dollar. Today, former Chancellor Johnson has earned the right to be called what he has become—a felon."

JOHNSON was Chancellor of the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education from 2002 until 2006. As Chancellor, JOHNSON was responsible for the operation of over twenty five community and technical colleges across the state of Alabama. While serving in that position, JOHNSON engaged in a series of bribery/kickback schemes with contractors who sought work with the Department and its subordinate institutions. The contractors gave Johnson money and services in exchange for Johnson's help getting State contracts. Johnson and his coconspirators hid these crimes by using false invoices, fraudulent loans, and fictitious entities to move money from the State of Alabama to Johnson and his family members. Johnson also engaged in witness tampering in an attempt to thwart the investigation of his crimes by the federal grand jury in Birmingham, Alabama. Since agreeing to plead guilty in December 2007, JOHNSON has been cooperating with authorities in the continued investigation of corruption related to the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education.

JOHNSON could receive more than twenty-five years in prison and over two million dollars in fines. Sentencing is scheduled for, August 20, 2008 at 11:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Karon O. Bowdre.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Attorney General's office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Miles M. Hart, Assistant United States Attorney Tamarra Matthews Johnson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Bill Lisenby.