Couple admits to stealing thousands from fund for Nassar survivors

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - A married couple is facing jail time after admitting they stole thousands of dollars from a fund set aside for the survivors of Larry Nassar.

Porter and Marcetta Johnson have both pleaded guilty to two counts of using false pretenses to obtain more than $20,000 from the MSU Healing Fund. The couple will now have to pay back more than $100,000 in total. Each was also charged with one count of using a computer to commit a crime.

The Johnson’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for next month.

Their daughter, Donita Johnson, is also charged. She faces two counts of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000, two counts of using false pretenses to obtain $20,000 or more, and four counts of using a computer to commit a crime. She played basketball at MSU from 1997 to 2001.

The Healing Fund was created in 2018 in a settlement with Nassar survivors. More than 160 women have said the former gymnastics doctor sexually assaulted them. Nassar is currently serving life in prison.

In all, the seven people charged are accused of fraudulently receiving more than $527,000 from the fund, money that was supposed to go to Nassar’s victims and their families.

Others charged include another former MSU basketball player and a former player at Syracuse University:

Maxann Reese, a basketball player at MSU from 1996 to 2000 and in the WNBA
- faces seven counts of false pretenses for $20,000 or more and one count of using a computer to commit a crime.
Mary Riley, from Inkster
- faces three counts of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000 and one count of false pretenses for more than $20,000.
  - Mary appears to have played basketball at Syracuse University from 2004-2008
Corey Riley, Mary’s brother
- faces one count of false pretenses for $20,000 or more.

In April, Tammy Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of using false pretenses to obtain more than $20,000 from the fund.

Based on Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Randy Berhmann’s questioning, Johnson told the court she submitted fraudulent claims of counseling sessions she did not receive to MSU’s healing fund in order to be reimbursed. She was ordered to pay $75,645.60 in restitution to MSU, which Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Randy Berhmann said was equivalent to the amount she obtained from the fund. Johnson’s plea agreement includes no upfront jail time.

All seven people involved with defrauding the healing fund were offered the same plea agreement.

Subscribe to our News 10 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every morning.