A New Orleans high school teacher has been indicted on charges of minor sex trafficking and other related offenses, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced. Aaron Terod Johnson, 36, is facing accusations that include Sex Trafficking of a Minor, Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Prostitution, and Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, as detailed in a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Johnson allegedly traveled to Vicksburg, Mississippi back in March 2024 to transport a 16-year-old girl to his abode in New Orleans, where he is accused to have had sexual relations with her, in an exchange that purported $200 as the term of their illicit negotiation. If convicted on all counts, the educator could face anywhere from a minimum of ten years to a life tenure in prison, along with a fine up to $250,000 and mandatory registration as a sex offender, all the while the indictment is just a charge; the due process to determine his guilt or innocence is yet to unfold.
The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative aiming to combat child exploitation and abuse. Homeland Security Investigations is currently soliciting tips from the public to help identify other potential victims that may have been exploited by Johnson. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to report via Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or by sending an email to [email protected], as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In praising the work of Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies involved, U.S. Attorney Evans noted the collective effort to bring such perpetrators to justice, Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit is heading the prosecution. The involvement of various law enforcement bodies, including the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office highlighting the concerted actions aligned towards enforcing laws and ensuring the safety of children, the community at large benefits from their vigilance and dedication to safeguarding the vulnerable.
