GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that John Dawood Dalaly, 71, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 28 months in federal prison and fined $25,000 for paying bribes to Rick Vernon Johnson, the former Chairperson of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board. Following his release from prison, Dalaly will serve two years on supervised release. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Beckering.
“John Dalaly bribed a public official. He corrupted a process designed to give people a fair shot at entering this promising new market,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten “Now, he’ll serve time in a federal prison. Public corruption is a poison to our democracy, and we will hold offenders accountable whenever and wherever we find them.”
Rick Johnson was a member and the Chairperson of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board (MMLB) between May 2017 and April 2019. Prior to his appointment to that Board, Johnson worked as a lobbyist in Lansing, Michigan, and served as Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.
John Dalaly operated two companies that were formed with the purpose of obtaining various operating licenses from the MMLB or exploring the licensing of a digital currency platform for medical marijuana financial transactions. Dalaly admitted paying at least $68,200 in cash and other benefits (including private charter flights) to Johnson while he served as the Chair of the MMLB. In return, Johnson voted in favor of approving the prequalification status for one of Dalaly’s companies and voted in favor of granting medical marijuana licenses to that company. Johnson also provided valuable non-public information about the anticipated rules and operation of the MMLB and assistance with license application matters to Dalaly and others who paid him money.
“The corrupt activities uncovered in this case were facilitated by men whose desire for favorable treatment outweighed notions of integrity and fair play,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Public corruption is the FBI’s top criminal investigative priority and anyone who seeks to influence public officials through bribery will be thoroughly investigated.”
Rick Johnson’s sentencing for accepting bribes is scheduled for Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in Grand Rapids before U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten is scheduled to attend Johnson’s sentencing hearing and provide comments outside immediately following.
On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, sentencing hearings have been scheduled for Brian Pierce at 11 a.m. and Vince Brown at 1:30 p.m. in Grand Rapids before U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher O’Connor and Clay Stiffler are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
More Posts
MICHIGAN HOUSE BILL NO. 5709
MICHIGAN HOUSE BILL NO. 5709 2020-04-30HousePassed; Given Immediate Effect Roll Call # 192 Yeas 62 Nays 38 Excused 0 Not Voting 9 To revise the penalties in one of the two laws that authorize a governor to assume extraordinary powers during an emergency, including the...
Executive Order 2020-70 (COVID-19)
Michigan Executive Order 2020-70 (COVID-19) EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 2020-70 Temporary requirement to suspend activities thatare not necessary to sustain or protect life Rescission of Executive Order 2020-59 The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that...
US Supreme Court votes remotely to deny voters right to vote remotely
According to Politifact... Politifact Summary The U.S. Supreme Court did indeed meet and vote remotely to rule on the Wisconsin election.But it’s a stretch to say they denied a “right to vote remotely”The traditional remote voting right is to cast an absentee ballot...
Active Marijuana Facilities Licensing Map
Active Facility Licenses In Michigan View a Map of the Active Facilities Licenses in Michigan, Including Provisioning Centers Licensed for Home Delivery. This map is filterable by type using the filter key (click the filter icon top right). Use the slider bar at...
GOVERNORS’ POWERS & AUTHORITY
From the National Governors' Association Website Overview Governors, all of whom are popularly elected, serve as the chief executive officers of the fifty states and five commonwealths and territories. As state managers, governors are responsible for implementing...
Listen Live to the US Supreme Court
Listen live to arguments in the Supreme Court. On Monday, the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments over the phone for the first time ever due to the coronavirus pandemic; they'll hear 10 cases remotely from now until May 13. But that's not the only history being...
US Supreme Court Press Releases Regarding the Justices and counsel will all participate remotely.
The US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments by telephone conference on May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 in a limited number of previously postponed cases. The following cases will be assigned argument dates after the Clerk’s Office has confirmed the availability of...
Michigan Supreme Court Opinion regarding MMMA caregivers and local ordinances
DeRUITER v TOWNSHIP OF BYRON Chief Justice: Bridget M. McCormackChief Justice Pro Tem: David F. VivianoJustices: Stephen J. Markman, Brian K. Zahra, Richard H. Bernstein, Elizabeth T. Clement, Megan K. CavanaghReporter of Decisions: Kathryn L. Loomis Docket No....
EPIDIOLEX® (cannabidiol) Oral Solution Has Been Descheduled And Is No Longer A Controlled Substance
April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GW Pharmaceuticals announced today that it had received notification from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirming that EPIDIOLEX® (cannabidiol) is no longer subject to the Controlled Substances Act...
The FDA recognizes the opportunities that cannabis and CBD
There is a significant interest in the development of therapies and other consumer products derived from cannabis and its components, including cannabidiol (CBD). FDA recognizes the potential opportunities that cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds may offer and...
