Suvechha Sarkar
Kristina Johnson, AKA Kris, was a devoted military wife and a mother. She stood by her husband, Colonel James Johnson, AKA Jim, for over two decades. However, when she discovered his shocking double life, it shattered the foundation of their marriage and pushed her to become a whistleblower eventually. Investigation soon unraveled a chain of scandals involving deception and financial fraud. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?: Duty, Honor, Deception’ delves deep into this shocking case and how secrecy can be used as a weapon. It also features interviews from Kris, her sister, Cathy Gilewich, and officials involved with the case.
Jim and Kris Johnson Were Happily Married Before Suspicions Crept In
Kristina Johnson, lovingly known as Kris, met James Johnson, AKA Jim, for the first time during a Halloween night in 1985. Their relationship soon turned serious, and they finally tied the knot on May 17, 1987. Shortly after, they welcomed two children into their lives, and she began raising them while moving from base to base with her husband. However, after the infamous 9/11 attack in 2001, Jim was deployed to Afghanistan. He had to leave his family behind in the country. In 2003, he was deployed again to Iraq as the Battalion Commander. By September 2005, Kris noticed Jim becoming cold and distant, which she attributed to his work stress.
In summer 2008, the family relocated to Vicenza, Italy, due to Jim’s posting. In December of that year, he invited his friends, Alladin Al-Atar, his wife, and his 24-year-old daughter, Haveen, whom he claimed to have been acquainted with during his time in Iran. However, subtle signs made Kris suspicious regarding his relationship with Haveen. When she found a note in his office stating that he wanted to divorce her, she confronted him. Jim had asked her if she wanted a divorce, but Kris hoped to work things out. However, she soon discovered the secret email accounts he used to contact Haveen. She also found his official credit card bill, which he used to pay Haveen’s family so that he could keep in touch. In November, Jim asked Kris to leave Italy, leaving her children behind.
Kris Johnson’s Search For Truth Uncovered Jim’s Web of Lies
When Kris fled back home with their children, Jim applied for an emergency injunction to gain emergency custody of their children. He had also filed a Hague Petition, claiming that she had kidnapped them. However, both the injunction and the petition were denied. When, in December, Kris learned from a neighbor that Jim was living with Haveen at their house in Italy, she decided to reveal his adultery. She reported the situation, including Jim’s misuse of government resources, to the Commander General, which led to a criminal investigation. In December 2011, Kris underwent a major surgery, but was shocked to find that the military insurance was not covering the costs. A visit to the ID card office revealed that she had been divorced since September 23. However, she had never signed any divorce papers.
As officials began investigating the matter, it turned out that Jim had forged Kris’ signature. Furthermore, he had married Haveen on November 9, committing bigamy. It was reportedly revealed that Alladin was trying to facilitate a $10 million contract from a windmill company in Afghanistan, but the company never worked for that location. Alladin would supposedly get $500,000 if the deal went through. Jim had given the Al-Atar family a government phone, reportedly generating a $30,000 bill. Investigators were shocked to find a “sex tape” on Jim’s computer hard drive. It served as significant evidence of adultery. By June 2012, he faced 27 military charges, including fraud, bigamy, and adultery, for misusing government funds to support a second marital relationship.
Jim Johnson is Likely Leading a Quiet Life Away From the Limelight
By the time the trial of Jim Johnson began on June 12, 2012, in a military court, his charges had come down to two counts of conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. He pleaded guilty to 15 charges, including adultery. After a few hours of deliberation, the jury eventually found him guilty of all 15 charges, including fraud, bigamy, and conduct unbecoming of an officer, among others. The other charges against him were either dropped or acquitted. Although Jim initially faced 54 years in prison as a maximum sentence, the court ultimately sentenced him to a formal reprimand.
Jim was ordered to spend five years in jail or pay a $300,000 fine. Even during his sentencing, he had pleaded for lesser punishment so he could go back to Haveen and her daughter. He eventually managed to escape his time in prison as his father paid the fine. Moreover, Jim was discharged from the military with a reduced rank of lieutenant colonel. Following the sentencing, he and Kris officially got divorced, and he had likely returned to Haveen and her daughter. As of writing, Jim is leading a quiet life away from the public eye.
Kris Johnson Turned Her Pain Into a Voice For Military Spouses
During the trial, Kris’ biggest fear was the possibility of losing the benefits that she and their children were entitled to if Jim was incarcerated. Being the whistleblower, she realized she might have been left with nothing. The horrific experience further made her realize how most army spouses never open up about their hurdles for fear that they may be left with nothing. Determined to turn her experience into change, she became one of the most tireless advocates for military spouses and families. Fueled by a sense of justice, her advocacy helped shape national policy.
Kris’ efforts influenced the inclusion of key protections in the National Defense Authorization Acts of 2015 and 2016, specifically through the Families Serve Too Military Justice Reform Act. Although the bill did not pass, some of its provisions have been adopted. The groundbreaking legislation aimed at ensuring that the courts-martial could punish law-breaking officials without cutting their families’ benefits. Beyond the policies, Kris has reached out to several local communities and was honored with numerous awards for her volunteer service. Some of them include the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, the Molly Pitcher Award, and many more. As of writing, we do believe that Kris is living her life with a sense of strength and purpose.
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