ABC board member arrested by ATC for extortion, public bribery

Ralph Steven Johnson, a member of the East Baton Rouge Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, has been arrested on felony arrest warrants by the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control for charges of extortion and public bribery, ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert announced today. The warrants allege Johnson—who is also vice president and executive director of the Melrose East Community Association—opposed the issuance of a license, but made an agreement to drop all opposition if a lump-sum contribution of $1,500 and monthly payments of $150 were made to MECA. The license applicant made the payment in the form of a check in order to stop the opposition. City-parish ABC Director Chris Cranford became aware of the situation and referred the matter to the ATC for investigation. Hebert says his office conducted an investigation, which included video recordings of the meeting where Johnson received the $1,500 from the license applicant, whose name has not been released. Johnson was appointed to a four-year term as an ABC board member by the Metro Council.