Baltimore Co. Cop Faked Gun Certifications For Bribes: Official

BALTIMORE, MD — A federal grand jury indicted a Baltimore County police officer Wednesday on charges he sought and accepted bribes to falsely certify firearms training documents.

The U.S. Attorney's office for the District of Maryland said William R. Johnson Jr., 32, of Baltimore, faces six counts of honest services wire fraud. He is accused of telling Maryland State Police that applicants for handgun qualification licenses and wear and carry permits had completed training, and faking certifications after receiving money from the applicants.

According to a federal indictment, "Johnson solicited and accepted bribes and kickbacks, paid through interstate electronic funds transfer services like Venmo, CashApp and Zelle, from applicants seeking HQLs and CCWs in exchange for Johnson falsely certifying to the Maryland State Police that the applicant had completed the training required by law," the news release said.

The alleged crimes took place between May 2019 and September 2021, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

"In conversations with the applicants, Johnson allegedly made clear that once they paid the money, Johnson would send them the required documentation and they did not need to attend the required classes," the U.S. Attorney's office said, referencing the indictment.

Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the six counts, the U.S. Attorney's office said.