HoHo Bowl XV, Five days before Christmas 2008
-----Original Message-----
From: AJ Johnson
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 10:03 AM
Subject: pay to play
St. Charles High School alum AJ Johnson is in federal custody on corruption charges,
a law enforcement official said Tuesday. Johnson and his chief of staff, Scott Graham,
are charged with conspiracy to commit e-mail and wire fraud and solicitation of
bribery, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern
District of Illinois.
A news conference is expected next Saturday at 10 AM central time.
Federal prosecutors say Johnson, Graham and others conspired to gain financial benefits
in appointing the team captain for the upcoming HoHo Bowl, according to the statement.
"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney
Justin Sandberg said in a statement. "They allege that Johnson put a 'for sale'
sign on the naming of a HoHo Bowl team captain; involved himself personally in pay-to-play
schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly
used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism."
According to the statement, Johnson is alleged to have discussed obtaining:
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a substantial salary for himself at Gobble Gobble Inc.;
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hot cocoa for his wife hand delivered at the game;
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promises from game officials to ‘look the other way’ on offsides and illegal man-in-motion
penalties;
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appointment as head referee himself.
Johnson, Graham and others are also alleged to have withheld great pictures and
videos of certain individuals from the bowl game website. The statement says this
was done to induce the firing of other players who were critical of Johnson.
He is reported as saying, “If those (bleep)ing people don’t come out and make me
look good, then (bleep) them. I’ve got the football and it’s (bleep)ing golden.
(Blee-eep!) If they want the ball they’re going to have to (bleep)ing pay!”
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HoHo Bowl XV
Five days before Christmas
Saturday, December 20, 2008, 10:00 AM CST
STC East High School football practice fields
http://www.gobblegobblebowl.com
www.gobblegobblebowl.com
ajj@tpri.com