Vickie LeDuc, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Maryland, said she couldn't discuss the details of the charges or what the agents were searching for. No Prince George's County police assisted in the arrests. The federal source said county council members are not involved in the investigation.

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County Council Vice Chairman Thomas Dernoga said he had been in his office all morning, and hadn't had contact with law enforcement authorities.

"It's a sad day in Prince George's County," said P.G. County political activist Sharrarne Morton.

Johnson's term ends Dec. 6, having been barred from running again this year due to term limits. So Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Howard A. Burnett could be leading the county for the next several weeks, as Johnson had previously signed an executive order stating that if he is temporarily unable to serve as executive, either because of absence from the county or because of a disability, then Burnett would serve in his absence, according to county spokesman Jim Keary.

According to the Prince George’s County charter, the county executive can be removed from office by a two-thirds vote by the county council, but the council is not convening again until Dec. 6, when a new council will be sworn in.

Rushern Baker was elected as the new county executive on Nov. 2, and will also be sworn in on Dec. 6.

The sitting county executive can choose to leave office as well. If that happens, or if he is removed, county councilmembers select one of their own by majority vote to take over.

"We don't know if anyone needs to stand in for the county executive," Keary said.

Leslie Johnson ran unopposed to win the Nov. 2 election to fill the District 6 council seat, and she is set to be sworn in Dec. 6. She could be removed from office only after a public hearing and a subsequent two-thirds vote by the council.

Reporting, writing and technical assistance provided by Brad Bell, Julie Parker, Ben Eisler, Sommer Mathis, Sarah Larimer, Markham Evans, Dan Patrick, Kevin Robillard, Bruce DePuyt, Elahe Izadi, and Julie Westfall.