An election commissioner in Mississippi’s largest county has pleaded guilty to fraud and embezzlement charges related to the misuse of pandemic relief money from a group funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Hinds County Election Commissioner Toni Johnson, 37, of Clinton, pleaded guilty Monday as jury selection for her trial began, court records show. She will have to resign and will no longer be able to serve in any office that handles public money, according to the state auditor’s office.
Johnson was chairwoman of the Hinds County Election Commission in 2020 and 2021. According to the state auditor’s office, she used COVID-19 response money from the Center for Technology and Civic Life to purchase two 85-inch televisions and personal protection, which he had allegedly delivered to his own home and another private home.
COVID RELIEF FUNDS SPENT ON ROADS, BUILDINGS, DAMES
Mississippi elections official Toni Johnson has pleaded guilty to fraud and embezzlement for misusing pandemic relief money. She will have to return more than $24,000 in restitution.
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The auditor said that to hide the scheme, Johnson allegedly purchased smaller, less expensive televisions as replacements for larger ones purchased by the Hinds County Election Commission.
In the plea agreement, Johnson is expected to avoid going to prison. Court records show prosecutors will recommend a 20-year sentence, with 15 of those years suspended and five for supervised probation. Johnson will have to pay restitution of more than $24,000.
Two other people previously pleaded guilty to charges in this case in Hinds County, including bribery of a public official and conspiracy to make fraudulent statements to the government. They await sentence.
