RODERICK JOHNSON
Death Row, Pennsylvania
A Victim of Police and Judicial Corruption
It is common knowledge that refusing to comply with law
enforcement officials can have dire consequences. But for Roderick
Johnson, not complying with orders passed down from Reading Pennsylvania
detectives got him near-fatally shot! And when Johnson miraculously
lived, they obtained their revenge by framing him on multiple counts
of murder!
Tragically, Roderick Johnson serves both a death and life
sentence because he REFUSED to carry out their orders to kill and
rob a rival drug dealer of a large quantity of drugs. At least
two Reading detectives were known to be in a corrupt alliance with drug
kingpin George “Gambino” Robles Jr., who by his own words “controlled
the streets of Reading from 1994 to 2001” under the authority of these
detectives. They ran an extensive crack cocaine and marijuana ring
from New York to Reading Pennsylvania. Robles has since admitted
to paying these detectives illegal drug proceeds, as well as to getting
high on illicit drugs with these same detectives.
Nyte life Clique (“NLC”) is the organization that George
Robles ran for corrupt Reading Pennsylvania detectives. Roderick
Johnson was George Roble’s right hand associate in this illegal drug
ring, so he witnessed payoffs and heard conversations between Robles
and Reading detectives. Roderick Johnson became a liability
because he knew too much, and because he refused to carry out their
criminal orders.
Conveniently, these “dirty” Reading detectives were also
the same detectives to investigate and arrest Roderick Johnson on
multiple counts of murder. (Take note that while there
were only three people killed, Roderick Johnson has been unjustly convicted
on five counts of murder!) There is no physical evidence to connect
Johnson to any of these murders. In one of the cases, there are
four eyewitnesses who all state that Roderick Johnson is not the murderer.
Conveniently, the primary evidence against Johnson in each case is
the testimony of State’s eyewitness and Drug Kingpin George “Gambino”
Robles Jr., who has since confessed to his unlawful drug alliance with
Reading Pennsylvania detectives. Others have also stepped forward
to speak about this illegal drug ring only to be threatened by either
the crooked detectives and/or Robles.
Even the retired Chief of Detectives that supervised them
has recently came forward to acknowledge that these criminal detectives
were known to be involved in drug trafficking. He states that
money was no object for these detectives……that they always had a lot of
it, and flaunted it by driving automobiles they could not afford with only
their police salaries. And I have very recently discovered that
at least one of these detectives, one who is only 45 years old, has
already retired! Please draw your own conclusion about how a police
detective can afford to retire at such a young age!
The State had knowledge of this corrupt alliance between
Reading detectives and George Robles. They withheld and suppressed
this evidence, threatened witnesses, and still sought to convict
Johnson…..despite that they had facts that prove he is not the murderer.
Even Johnson’s own trial attorney had information of these fraudulent
activities two months prior to the trial and he neither investigated
it, nor presented it to the court until AFTER Roderick Johnson was
convicted and sentenced to death!
Johnson’s Post-Conviction attorney did attempt to bring
this evidence to light at the hearing, but the judge threatened to
have him arrested if he even mentioned it again! (Note that both
Roderick and I have documentation to verify everything you have just
read.) Unfortunately, once a verdict has been reached the judicial
court system is more concerned with procedure than justice. Johnson
has been unjustly incarcerated for seven years now, and his execution
warrant has been signed four times. On one occasion he was only
72 hours away from being murdered by the State when he was granted a stay
of execution. This convoluted across-the-board conspiracy leaves
an innocent man languishing on death row with an additional life sentence
plus five to ten years.
It is extremely difficult to overturn a murder conviction.
Even when innocence is blatantly obvious, the legal battle is still
very time-consuming and expensive. It is not a matter of innocence
or guilt anymore; the defense has to prove that the convicted person
was deprived of his or her Constitutional Rights. There is no question
that Roderick Johnson was denied his rights on numerous occasions.
While it is undisputable that Roderick Johnson was living
a lifestyle that placed him in danger, this does not justify the farce
that is threatening his existence. While he may deserve a drug-related
sentence, he does not deserve the murder convictions that have stolen
his life. This travesty of justice, perpetrated by the very people
who are sworn to protect and uphold the law, cannot be met with indifference!
The constitution itself mandates that we the people are to be the primary
control of government. It is our duty to not meet crimes against
humanity with indifference. As Martin Luther King Jr. so aptly
put it, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Furthermore, Roderick Johnson deserves our assistance so
that he can be free to be an active father in guiding the lives of
his five young children. He has parents, family, and friends
who are waiting to welcome him back home with loving arms. He
is only 28 years old; he’s an intelligent conscious young African American
man that shows tremendous promise in being a productive member of society
upon his liberation. He is an especially talented writer and
poet, as well as a born-again Christian Minister who faithfully spreads
the word of God.
Roderick Johnson today is vastly different from the adolescent
who fell into the allure of the drug world as a way to provide for
his children. I did not know Roderick before his incarceration,
so it is difficult for me to envision him during this turbulent time
of his life. The Roderick Johnson I know is a spiritual, honorable
and loving man who is focused on reaching out to others in need and
spreading the word of God.
I pray that you will take a few minutes to contact either
me or Roderick to offer your support in whatever way you can.
Please do not turn a blind eye to this terrible injustice. Remember,
even Jesus was a prisoner. Jesus was also persecuted and executed
because others feared the truth being known.
Roderick desperately needs media coverage to get the facts
of his case publicized to expose the corruption that precipitated
his false incarceration and impending death sentence. Perhaps
you have time that you could spend writing letters or contacting organizations
that might offer assistance to Roderick? Possibly you have a website
and are willing to offer him a page to further his cause? Maybe
you can offer a website devoted to Roderick that can be continually updated
so that all of his supporters and prospective supporters can have fast
and easy access to everything pertaining to Roderick and the progress
of his cases?
Perhaps you or someone close to you can offer services
or public support as an entertainer, musician, actor, writer, television
network, motion picture studio, magazine, author, government official,
human rights activist, attorney, investigator, or paralegal, etc?
Or if time is something you have little of, you may prefer to make a donation
to Roderick’s Legal Defense Fund? Whatever you can do is much
needed and greatly appreciated. On behalf of Roderick, thank
you in advance for your support. God Bless.
Copyright © Carla Andrews 2004
Roderick Johnson’s Legal Defense Fund
Innocent In Prison
Carla Andrews
PO BOX 672
Jasper, IN 47547
(812) 482-6554
MsCPlus448@yahoo.com
- (Please put Roderick’s name in the subject line if emailing)
RODERICK'S
PENPAL REQUEST
Yes; My name is
Roderick André Johnson, I am 28-years old. I was born on January
30, 1976. I was born and raised in New York City, in the Bronx. I’m presently
on Death Row here in the state of Pennsylvania, and have been for the
last 7 years.
I have 5 beautiful
children. I am a born AGAIN Christian man, and have been for the last
6 years.
I love music, and
I listen to all kind of music, but I prefer Jazz, ore R&B. It puts
me in deep thought. I love to have long deep conversations on all levels,
I’m a very good listener, and I give very good advice. I love to take
long walks, especially in the early morning, ore in the evening right
before the sunsets.
I love to cook,
and from what I hear I’m very good at it. I love to write music, poetry,
and short stories. I love to help, and support people in any way possible.
I love flowers, and animals, and hope one day to have a ranch amongst
various other things.
I love children.
I’m very kind, considerate, gentle, patient, I have very good spirit,
humble, but have a bad boy side to me as well. I’m far from a push over,
but I don’t look for trouble, I try to avoid it at all cost.
I love to go to
the movies, ore even to sit and kick it at home and watch a movie. I
like action movies, and mystery movies; you know suspenseful type joints.
I’m very thoughtful
and romantic. I’m African-American, 5’9” tall Cocoa complexion, with
brown eyes. I weight 190lbs, physically fit.
I love art, and
hope to open an Art Gallery soon.
I really can’t think
of much more to say it’s rather difficult just to describe oneself without
being asked questions. I hope that there is someone out there who will
take the time, just a minute to holla at me and get to know me. I promise
you it will not be a waist of your time. Time is too much of a precious
commodity, and I’m not trying to waist it, or have mine wasted.
I’m into building
and growing. I believe that there are only two kinds of people in this
world:
1) Those that are
building and will help you build, and ya`ll can grow together and learn
from each other. You know one who will help you/assist you is pursuing/fulfilling
your dreams; And
2) Those that will
pull you down, ore prevent you from growing/or slow your growth, those
who will destroy you instead of help you build and become a better person.
Well I hope that
there is someone out there that can grow with. Until then stay blessed
and have a blessed evening.
I’M TRUE
Roderick Johnson #DN-0530
SCI Greene
175 Progress Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370
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last updated Oct 26, 2004
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