Payroll worker's testimony scrutinizes Jordan Davis' time spent working
Jordan Davis was paid nearly $35,000 a year as a salaried employee at the ice cream shop run by his father's nonprofit.
However, in testimony at his conspiracy trial on Thursday, questions arose about how much work Davis did to earn his salary.
The claim that he didn't work as much as he earned is at the heart of a federal trial in which Davis is charged with allegedly conspiring to misuse taxpayer money.
Charges say that from 2002 to 2006 Davis managed a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop funded by Community Action of Minneapolis, the nonprofit run by his father Bill Davis for 24 years.
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Last week, the elder Davis pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including misuse of taxpayer funds and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Prosecutors say that even after Jordan Davis left the shop's manager position to become a Minneapolis police officer, he illegally received payments totaling $140,000 over a four-year period.
Bonnie Johnson, a 30-year employee of Community Action of Minneapolis who worked in payroll, testified on Thursday that she wondered why the group issued paychecks to two managers at the Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop.
However, she said she felt too intimidated by then-CEO Bill Davis to ask why.
Defense attorney Fred Bruno asked Johnson if she actually knew how much work Jordan did at the store. "No," Johnson replied.
In opening statements, Bruno said he will present evidence showing that Davis earned his keep even after he stopped working day to day at the ice cream store.