A former Miami Police Department civilian employee has found herself on the wrong side of the law, facing serious fraud charges after being accused of crafting a web of lies in an attempt to receive over $63,000 in rental assistance. Vernesha Johnson, 33, from Miramar, was charged with public assistance fraud and other felonies following a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigation that began when the Miami Police Department suspected one of their own of fraudulent activities, as reported by NBC Miami.

Johnson's attempt to obtain financial aid from the Broward County Emergency Rental Assistance Program came undone after she allegedly submitted falsified pay stubs, which painted a picture of her income being less than it was; it was revealed by My Florida News , further details of the investigation showed Johnson providing nine forged payroll slips to the program staff in September 2023 when they requested updated documentation for her financial status, these said pay stubs were later confirmed to be forgeries by the City of Miami Payroll Department.

Even as the walls closed in, Johnson maintained her innocence and went as far as to file a false police report in February 2024, claiming that her identity had been stolen. This maneuver, however, fell flat when digital forensic analysis confirmed her ownership and use of the accounts involved; FDLE agents contacted Johnson regarding the allegations, to which she denied responsibility, but evidence pointed otherwise.

Last Friday, authorities arrested Johnson, who has been relieved of her duties with the police department, bringing a stark turn to what was once a career in law enforcement, the case is now in the hands of the Office of the State Attorney, 17th Judicial Circuit and as NBC Miami reports, Johnson currently awaits further proceedings behind the bars of Broward County Jail.