CLEVELAND — Two former East Cleveland police officers -- Von Harris and Demarkco Johnson -- have been sentenced to serve time behind bars in a bribery case that dates back more than five years.
Sentencing was handed down Monday morning by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Maureen Clancy with Johnson given 12 months and Harris received 24 months.
"It casts such a negative light on your profession, and then causes others to question and become suspicious in others involved in your profession," the judge said while announcing her decision.
Both were remanded into custody as the hearing ended despite the defense requesting an opportunity for them to surrender at a later date.
It comes as court records show Harris was convicted by a jury late last month of bribery, forgery and insurance fraud, while Johnson was convicted of bribery. Both were found not guilty, however, on multiple counts, which include conspiracy and identity fraud.
Here’s how the prosecutor’s office initially outlined the allegations against Harris and Johnson:
On June 13, 2018, Von Harris and Demarkco Johnson, in police uniform, provided an individual with falsified police reports in exchange for two cash payments of $200 outside of the East Cleveland Police Department.
On June 20, Harris and Johnson provided an individual with falsified police reports in exchange for two cash payments of $200 outside of a gas station near Shaw Avenue and Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland.
On July 24, Harris and Johnson provided an individual with falsified police reports in exchange for two cash payments of $500 outside of a gas station near Shaw Avenue and Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland.
An investigation conducted with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed Harris and Johnson falsified police reports and took money from the individual for their personal use. The individual planned to file an insurance claim worth over $10,000 with the falsified police reports.