Houston Man Charged with Sex Trafficking of a Minor

HOUSTON—Alexander Joseph Johnson, 24, of Houston, has been indicted on charges of sex trafficking of a 15-year-old female, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

Johnson was arrested on August 6, 2013, based on a criminal complaint. On August 8, he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson for a detention hearing. At that time, Judge Johnson found there was probable cause to believe he committed the crime of sex trafficking of a minor and that he was a danger to the community and a flight risk and ordered him into custody.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim was forced to perform sex acts with strangers for money and turn that money over to Johnson. Johnson allegedly posted advertisements online for commercial sex for the victim in Houston and Colorado. The victim was forced to earn $500 an evening, according to the complaint, and when she met her quota, Johnson would allegedly “reward” her by having sex with her. Allegations also include that Johnson provided the victim with marijuana and alcohol and only provided her food at his discretion.

If convicted, Johnson faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison as well as a maximum fine of $250,000. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, he also faces a maximum lifetime term of supervised release and he will be required to register as a sex offender.

The Houston FBI Innocence Lost Task Force, which includes such agencies as the Houston Police Department, investigated.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "Resources."

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.