Wednesday, May 18, 2011 | 3:49 p.m.
A disbarred Las Vegas lawyer pleaded guilty today to making false statements to FBI agents who were investigating his attempts to bribe an individual he believed was a bank employee, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.
Valner Johnson, 53, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Philip Pro to making a false statement to federal agents, a felony offense. Johnson, who was indicted in November, will be sentenced Aug. 22. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In April 2010, one of his legal clients reported to the FBI that he was solicited by Johnson to locate a bank employee who could assist the attorney in carrying out a scheme to misrepresent his bank balance to third parties. The purpose was for Johnson to earn large profits. The FBI initiated an investigation utilizing an undercover agent to pose as a bank employee. Over the next several months, the FBI collected information of Johnson’s intent to bribe the bank employee.
On July 28, FBI agents executed search warrants at Johnson’s residence and law office. He denied to agents that he had asked the bank employee to falsely verify to third parties that he had more than $500 million on deposit in his Bank of America bank account. He also denied that he had asked the bank employee to provide him protected internal banking codes. At the time Johnson made the denials, he knew they were false and material to the federal investigation. After agents finished interviewing Johnson, he admitted to a third party that he tried to conceal his criminal conduct by lying to the investigators.
The Nevada State Bar website states that Johnson has been disbarred from the practice of law. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Brown.
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