WASHINGTON (CBSDC) - A D.C. neighborhood commissioner has been using his government-issued cell phone to call adult sex-chat hotlines.

According to a report from the Washington Post, Lenwood Johnson – a representative of Columbia Heights – made at least 240 of the illicit phone calls since Aug. 2011, totalling more than 158 hours.

Johnson defends himself by saying he was not informed of any restrictions put on phone use. His reason for the calls – to stay awake on drives home from Baltimore.

The government-paid phones are also restricted from being used for political phone calls. Johnson reportedly used his phone for calls to Pete Ross – a Washington businessman – while he was running for shadow senator.