Marcetta and Porter are the parents of Donita Johnson, a former women’s basketball player from 1997-2001 that is also facing charges for making fraudulent claims to the Healing Fund. Donita is facing two charges of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000, two charges of false pretenses of $20,000 or more and four charges of using a computer to commit a crime. 

The deal requires the Johnsons to pay restitution to the university. Porter Johnson will be required to pay $38,714.96 to MSU and Marcetta Johnson will be required to pay $69,360.00. They will not face any jail time. 

Kevin Bessant, the attorney representing the Johnsons, said he had no comment on the plea deal.

Their sentencing date is scheduled for July 29. 

The Healing Assistance Fund was established in 2017 by the university to cover the medical expenses for survivors of ex-MSU doctor Larry Nassar. The fund was discontinued in 2018 due to an investigation opened up by MSUPD into potentially fraudulent claims. 

The MSU Board of Trustees started an intermediate fund to replace the original Healing Fund using the original money by the Board and is run by a third-party company, New Directions Behavioral Health. MSU Trustee Brianna Scott said in April that there was approximately $7.9 million remaining in the fund and there are no plans in place to add any additional money. 

The other four individuals that were charged are:

• Former MSU women’s basketball player (1996-2000) Maxann Reese of Dallas, Texas, charged with seven counts of false pretenses of $20,000 or more and one count of using a computer to commit a crime.

• Tammy Johnson of Clinton Township, charged with two counts of false pretenses between $20,000 and $50,000.

• Corey Riley of Inkster, charged with one count of false pretenses between $20,000 and $50,000. 

• Mary Riley of Inkster, sister of Corey Riley, charged with one count of false pretenses between $20,000 and $50,000, as well as three counts of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000.