Sen. Bert Johnson changes mind, pleads guilty to corruption

DETROIT (WJBK) - Almost a year to the day since the feds raided his Highland Park home, State Senator Bert Johnson has decided to plead guilty to corruption charges.

Johnson is accused of hiring a 'ghost' employee by federal prosecutors. He's denied the allegatations and both sides were prepared for a legal battle in two weeks. Instead, he has now said he'll plead guilty to the charges.

The feds say Johnson's troubles started in 2013 when he needed money for his son's tuition, his own bills at the University of Detroit-Mercy, and debts to political consultants. Johnson allegedly turned to Glynis Thorton for a $10,000 loan and in 2014, Johnson put thornton on his Senate payroll.

The feds say Thornton was paid $23,000 for work she didn't do and that it was all just a scheme to repay Johnson's debt with your tax dollars.

Johnson proclaimed his innocence and during a trip to federal court Tuesday, he rejected a plea deal that came with a sentence of 6 to 12 months in prison.

After sleeping on it for a few days, Johnson must not have slept well very well because he is now scheduled to return to court Friday to plead guilty to conspiring to steal your money to pay his debts.

A guilty plea in this case could pretty much squash Johnson's political ambitions as well as a conviction.