Captain Marvin Johnson was deputy commander for District II until he was fired on Thursday, joining at least four others being investigated for academic dishonesty.
TAMPA, Fla. — There are new developments in a cheating scandal that’s rocked the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
10 Tampa Bay confirmed Thursday that another high-ranking deputy, this time a captain, was fired. He joins at least four others accused of having someone else complete mandatory coursework for promotions or prestige assignments, including for the FBI National Academy.
Captain Marvin Johnson was deputy commander for District II, which covers part of east Tampa, and is one of several who’ve resigned or been fired since an internal investigation started on what the sheriff says is about academic integrity.
Earlier this month, 10 Tampa Bay News reported Deputy Chief Anthony Collins abruptly resigned this summer amid the cheating probe. Then last week, it was confirmed that Colonel Chris Rule, who oversees support services, and Colonel Michael Hannaford, who heads up patrol, were fired during the same investigation.
On Wednesday, Captain Zuly Stearns was also fired, and on Thursday, Johnson was let go.
“I don’t see any excuse and any possible reason as to why they would cheat and do what they did and turn it in as their own work,” said retired FBI special agent Jill Stillman, who’s from Tampa and worked alongside National Academy classes when she was a trainee. “Sure, we have AI, ChatGPT, all those things, even other humans to do their work for them, but I think there’s absolutely no excuse, no reason for this.”
She said the scandal could impact prior cases in which those accused worked as deputies.
“It’s like throwing a pebble into the pond and you just watch it go out,” she said. “They’re forever now saying, ‘I have a lack of integrity. I have a lack of candor; therefore, I can’t be trusted.’”
10 Tampa Bay asked for all investigative files and reports related to this cheating scandal. That request is still being processed.
We also asked the sheriff for an on-camera interview, but were told he’ll address it publicly when the investigation is complete.