Former NFL player Eric Johnson accused of human trafficking in Georgia

ATLANTA — Former NFL defensive back Eric Johnson, who returned a blocked punt for a touchdown for the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, was one of eight men indicted on charges related to gang and human trafficking activities in suburban Atlanta, prosecutors said.

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Johnson, 46, of Decatur, was one of the men alleged to belong to the LOTTO gang in Gwinnett County, according to a news release from Georgia’s Office of the Attorney General. LOTTO stands for “Last One to Take Over,” according to WSB-TV.

According to prosecutors, Johnson and the other seven defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, also known as the RICO Act.

According to prosecutors, the other defendants included Sean Aaron Curry, 33, of Gwinnett County; Sean Patrick Harvey, 35, of Gwinnett County; Jadah Marie Henry, 20, of Gwinnett County; Tyreek Raysheen Lee, 26, of Monroe County; Bobby Jamaine Downing, 41, of DeKalb County; Hilton Lance Dobbins, 33, of Fulton County; and Jayda Veronica Wilson, 25, of Gwinnett County.

The eight defendants were indicted by a grand jury last week after an investigation conducted by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Officer Special Investigations section, WSB reported.

According to prosecutors, the indictments against Johnson include one count of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act, one count of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude and three counts of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Johnson allegedly “subjected and maintained” one girl for the purpose of sexual servitude by coercion, the television station reported, citing the Attorney General’s Gang and Human Trafficking Prosecution units.

According to the news release, Johnson, Curry and Harvey are alleged to have committed crimes while “occupying a position of leadership with regard to LOTTO.”

Johnson played six seasons in the NFL from 2000 to 2005, according to Pro-Football-Reference. He played with the Raiders from 2000 to 2003, then played in 2004 with the Atlanta Falcons and the 2005 season with the Arizona Cardinals.

In Super Bowl XXXVII on Jan. 26, 2003, Johnson recovered a punt blocked by teammate Tim Johnson early in the fourth quarter, returning the ball 13 yards for a touchdown and narrowing Oakland’s deficit to 34-15.

Oakland lost the game 48-21 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Johnson played 74 games in the NFL and started two games, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Johnson remains in the Gwinnett County Jail since his arrest on Nov. 14, 2022, according to Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office online booking records. He faces nine charges, including felony trafficking a person for sexual servitude, violating the RICO Act, attempting to solicit, persuade, encourage or entice a dealer to transfer a weapon, and several probation violations, online records show.