Former DHS Employee Convicted Of Sexual Abuse

FORT GREENE – He was supposed to help them, instead he groped them.  Clyde Johnson, 56, had been working at the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) as a community coordinator and housing specialist since July of 2015. Today he was convicted of forcibly touching and sexually abusing three residents at the Auburn Family Shelter in 2017.

In April of 2017, Johnson groped a shelter resident while meeting with her to discuss housing. Three months later in July, he rubbed up against another shelter resident’s butt while she was buying something at a deli near the shelter, telling her: “This is a stickup.” On a different occasion, Johnson rubbed up against the same woman while they were riding the B54.

But that was not all. In August of 2017, another shelter resident came to Johnson’s office asking for help on her housing situation. He proceeded to grope her as well. In December of 2017, Johnson was arrested.

“This defendant preyed upon already vulnerable shelter residents, depriving them of the security and confidence they should expect in a City-operated shelter and when coming to a public servant for assistance,” NYC Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett said. “Today, this defendant was held accountable, is now facing jail time, and no longer works for the City of New York. This investigation underscores how sexual abuse and harassment infringe on a person’s most basic rights and feeling of safety.”

Johnson, who is from Queens, was convicted today of three counts of forcible touching and one count of third-degree sexual abuse. His sentencing is set for December 16, 2019, and he faces up to two years in prison. He no longer works for DHS.

“The victims in this case are among society’s most vulnerable people and it is incumbent upon us that when we welcome them into a New York City shelter they are offered a safe haven and treated with dignity and respect,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. “Sadly, that did not happen in this case. Today’s verdict is a measure of justice for these women and holds the defendant accountable for his egregious and abusive conduct.”