Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that former Hartford police detective TISHAY JOHNSON, 40, of Windsor, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to three years of probation, the first six months of which JOHNSON must serve in home confinement, for his theft of nearly $30,000 in firearm permit fees. JOHNSON was also ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and make full restitution.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Hartford residents seeking a permit to carry a concealed weapon are required to submit an application to the City of Hartford through the Hartford Police Department. The application includes a municipal application processing fee of $70 to Hartford and a background check fee of $66.50 to the State of Connecticut. JOHNSON administered the Hartford Police Department’s concealed weapons permit program and was responsible for processing citizens’ applications, collecting the application fees and depositing the fees into the appropriate city or state accounts. Between October 2009 and January 2014, JOHNSON embezzled $29,426.75 that had been paid in connection with permit applications by altering checks and money orders to make it appear that the checks and money orders were payable to him. He also forged signatures on checks to make it appear that the intended payee had endorsed the check over to him. JOHNSON then deposited the funds into a personal checking account.

JOHNSON was ordered to make restitution of $17,442.50 to the City of Hartford and $11,984.25 to the State of Connecticut.

JOHNSON resigned from the Hartford Police Department in January 2014. On May 5, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a local government receiving federal funds.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Mattei.