Disbarred lawyer gets probation for false statements
A disbarred attorney was sentenced to three years probation Monday after pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents last year regarding his alleged attempts to bribe a bank official.
Valner Johnson, 53, pleaded guilty in May to a felony charge of making false statements to federal agents. He was indicted in November on that charge.
One of Johnson’s former clients in April 2010 told the FBI that Johnson had solicited him to find a bank employee who could help Johnson carry out a scheme to illegally raise money, the U.S. attorney’s office stated in court papers.
An undercover agent posed as a bank employee. Under the scheme, the agent was supposed to tell unidentified third parties that Johnson had $500 million on deposit at the bank. Johnson also asked the agent to provide him protected internal bank codes, prosecutors said.
When confronted, Johnson, not knowing an FBI agent had posed as the banker, denied any role in the alleged scam attempt.
On July 28 agents executed search warrants at Johnson’s home and law office.
Johnson earned his law license in 1990, according to the State Bar of Nevada website. Earlier this year he was banned for life from practicing law.
Contact reporter Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@reviewjournal.com or 224-5512.
