2008
April 25
Federal agents arrive in Sacramento to investigate St. HOPE's use of federal grant money and Johnson's alleged misconduct toward two teens in the Hood Corps program.
April 26
Johnson says St. HOPE made no major transgressions in Hood Corps, though he acknowledges there might have been minor oversights. He denies having any inappropriate contact with any girl in Sacramento.
May 30
Citing lack of evidence, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department concurs with city police that no criminal case can be made against Johnson.
June 3
Johnson beats incumbent Mayor Heather Fargo, 46 percent to 40 percent, in the June primary election. But lacking a majority of the vote, he must face her again in a November runoff.
June 30
The Bee reports that the continuing federal investigation into St. HOPE has expanded to scrutinize more deeply the volunteer program's use of $807,000 in AmeriCorps funds, which were intended to support community service, including tutoring, public relations for the Guild Theater and managing redevelopment of one Oak Park building per year.
Sept. 4
Federal agents say they have turned the St. HOPE case over to the U.S. attorney's office in Sacramento.
Sept. 24
Johnson, St. HOPE Academy and former top executive Dana Gonzalez are placed on the government's "excluded parties" list, barring them from receiving federal money until the investigation into the use of AmeriCorps funds is completed.
Sept. 25
Federal officials release findings of their investigation of Johnson and Hood Corps, citing violations that include supplementing salaries for St. HOPE school staff with federal grant funds, having volunteers engage in political activities, such as canvassing for school board members, and having participants run personal errands for Johnson.
Sept. 26
Johnson says it is absurd to suggest that his inclusion on the excluded parties list would hurt his ability to act as Sacramento's mayor.
Nov. 4
Johnson defeats Fargo, 57 to 42 percent, to become the capital's first African American mayor.
Nov. 6
U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott says that the investigation of Johnson and Hood Corps does not warrant criminal charges. A decision on a possible civil lawsuit awaits results of an audit by the Office of the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Nov. 20
Sacramento City Unified School District trustees approve a plan for the education wing of Johnson's organizations, St. HOPE Public Schools, to gradually pay off the remaining $730,000 of an accumulated $1 million debt owed to the district.
2009
March 21
The Bee reports that Frederic M. Levy, a government contracting expert hired by the city, concluded in a confidential memo that Sacramento is likely barred from getting federal money – including tens of millions expected from the stimulus package – because Johnson is on the federal excluded parties list.
March 24
Johnson disputes Levy's memo.
March 31
Johnson threatens to sue the federal government if he is not taken off the excluded parties list.
April 9, 2009
Johnson settles his case with the federal government and is taken off a list of individuals barred from receiving federal funds.
Sources: Bee news archives. Bee research by Pete Basofin and Sheila A. Kern.
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