Alphonso Johnson tampered with a witness, promoted prostitution while behind bars

A man arrested last year in connection with a special investigation involving an address in Gresham has been found guilty of drug dealing.

After a one-week trial, Alphonso Leon Johnson, 37, of Camas was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, as well as promoting prostitution and witness tampering.

Portland police arrested him in December, months after police investigating a drug-dealing operation served warrants at a Gresham apartment in the 600 block of Southeast 190th Avenue and a Portland food cart.

Detectives arrested a Gresham woman at the apartment on allegations of possession, delivery and conspiracy to deliver cocaine.

Nearly four months later, police arrested Johnson in connection with the drug-dealing operation. But while in jail awaiting trial, he reportedly continued to promote prostitution from the jail's phone system, as well as tampered with a witness involved with his case, said Lt. Steve Alexander, sheriff's office spokesman.

Johnson also used his girlfriend to help him falsify a marriage license for a marriage that never took place, Alexander said.

In addition to the six felony cocaine charges he was arrested on, Johnson also was indicted on additional charges of promoting prostitution and witness tampering.

Last week, he was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to delivery cocaine, witness tampering and promoting prostitution and sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Johnson also must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

He still faces federal sanctions for violating the terms of his federal probation on an unspecified offense.