Ex Hartford Detective Spared Prison For Theft
August 4, 2014
Hartford Federal Court (Matt Dwyer/WTIC Photo)
The U.S. Attorney’s office says 40-year-old Tishay Johnson of Windsor was sentenced Monday in federal court in Hartford to six months home confinement. Johnson, who pleaded guilty in May to theft, also was ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and make full restitution.
HARTFORD — A former Hartford police detective who was accused of stealing nearly $30,000 in pistol permit application fees between 2009 and 2014 pleaded guilty Monday in federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Tishay Johnson, who processed applications for concealed weapons permits, waived his right to indictment and entered a plea of guilty to one count of theft from a local government receiving federal funds.
Tishay Johnson, who processed applications for concealed weapons permits, waived his right to indictment and entered a plea of guilty to one count of theft from a local government receiving federal funds.
"Mr. Johnson did plead guilty today in the hope of putting this matter behind him," said his attorney, Salvatore Bonanno. "It's an unfortunate situation that he's got to deal with at this point in time."
He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in August. He also agreed to pay $17,442 in restitution to the City of Hartford and $11,984 to the state.
Police previously said that a routine audit uncovered irregularities in the pistol permit process. Johnson, resigned shortly after on Jan. 27.
According to court documents, Johnson processed Hartford residents' gun permit applications, which included a $70 municipal processing fee and a background check fee of $66.50 that was supposed to go to the state.
Johnson was responsible for depositing the fees into city and state accounts. Court documents say he altered checks and money orders to make them appear as if they were made payable to him and forged signatures on the checks.
He deposited the money into a personal checking account, stealing a total of $29,426 in gun permit application fees between 2009 and 2014, court documents say.
"I find no solace in our detection of the criminal act; I am personally and professionally embarrassed on behalf of the Hartford Police Department," said Hartford Police Chief James C. Rovella.
"These actions by Mr. Johnson are by no means representative of the good, often stellar, work by the department members, both sworn and civilian," Rovella said.
Cop Stole Nearly $30,000 To Fund Gambling HabitFeds Say Tishay Johnson Stole Money From City Over Five Years |
A former cop in Hartford, Connecticut who ran the town’s concealed weapons permit program, admitted to stealing nearly $30,000 in weapons fees to fund his gambling addiction.
According to CBS, Tishay Johnson altered hundreds of checks and money orders to make it look like they had been made out to him. He was accused of stealing a check or two per week for five years before his crimes were finally noticed.
In addition, he lied that some applicants had completed a background check.
Federal prosecutors have asked for between six months and a year in prison.
Defense attorneys argued that he suffered from PTSD after getting shot on duty in 2003 and thus should not serve any time.
A psychologist for the defense said that Johnson thought he could outsmart casinos.
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