A Miami-Dade Police Department detective has been convicted of perjury, as a federal jury found Keenan Johnson guilty on multiple counts for lying under oath. The verdict, delivered in the Southern District of Florida United States District Court, ensures that Johnson could face up to 15 years in federal prison, with sentencing set for October of this year.
Johnson's charges stem from false testimony during an April 4, 2022 evidentiary hearing in a criminal case. The detective was indicted over a year later, on July 31, 2024. According to information released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, Johnson denied under oath having used a particular telephone number, one that he had actually been linked to for over four years. He further denied receiving texts or having any calls with a witness who confronted the matter.
It was Chief Judge Cecilia Altonaga who, at the hearing's conclusion, directed the prosecutor to investigate the suspicious discrepancies. This prompted an inquiry that revealed Johnson's deceptive actions, resulting in the recent jury verdict. According to the Department of Justice, investigators found that Johnson had indeed used the phone number, even engaging in a significant phone conversation the night before his testimony and subsequently deleting the number post-hearing.
The case was pursued by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs Jr. of the Middle District of Florida, who served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for this case. The investigation saw collaborative efforts by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Miami and the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General. Amidst the legal wrangles and unraveling of Johnson's misconduct.
