Eric Johnson, who played six NFL seasons between 2000 and 2005, is among eight charged with tracking down four women and a girl, as well as other gang-related charges Thursday.
Attorney General Chris Carr says members of the «LOTTO gang» face charges of human trafficking for sexual servitude, violation of the street gang prevention and terrorism act, conspiracy to violate the law of corrupt and gangster-influenced organizations ( RICO), aggravated assault and kidnapping. , by FOX 5 Atlanta.
All eight were indicted by a grand jury on February 8.
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Eric Johnson #41 of the Oakland Raiders returns a blocked punt for a 13-yard touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to close the score 34-15 in favor of the Buccaneers at 14:16 of the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XXXVII on February 26. January 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Carr said the eight gang members were discovered after a month-long investigation. He alleges that the LOTTO gang was engaged in human trafficking for money to support its members and buy weapons, among other things.
The indictment against the LOTTO gang is extensive, finding 41 «overt and overt acts» that were committed between October 2021 and July 2022. There, the gang is said to have kept under control the women they trafficked through the violence and held them against. his will
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“Throughout our state, gangs are actively involved in human trafficking as a primary means of making money, and we are using all available resources to fight and protect the most vulnerable,” Carr said on FOX 5 Atlanta. «By combining the strengths of our Gang and Human Trafficking Prosecution Units, we are working to ensure that those who lead, promote and encourage this illegal activity are vigorously pursued and held accountable for their actions. This indictment is just the most recent result of our ongoing process.» efforts to keep our children and families safe as we seek to stamp out violent crime wherever it occurs.»
Eric Johnson #41 of the Oakland Raiders looks on against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 14, 2003 at Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Johnson, known as «EJ» in the gang, is being charged with RICO, human trafficking for sexual servitude and violation of the Street Gang Prevention and Terrorism Act.
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The 46-year-old joined the Oakland Raiders from Nebraska, spending four seasons there from 2000 to 2003. He was best known as a special teams ace with the team, returning Tim Johnson’s blocked punt for a touchdown on the Raiders’ Super Bowl XXXVII loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003.
Eric Johnson #55 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on October 2, 2004 at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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Johnson would move to the Atlanta Falcons for one season in 2004 and then to the Arizona Cardinals in 2005, which would be his final season.