Local High School Teacher Sentenced to 33 Years for Sex Trafficking 16-Year-Old Girl from Mississippi to New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LA - U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that AARON TEROD JOHNSON ("JOHNSON"), age 38, from New Orleans, was sentenced today to 33 years imprisonment before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk.

On December 10, 2025, a jury unanimously found JOHNSON guilty of both Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) and 1591(b)(2); and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Prostitution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b).

According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, JOHNSON, a New Orleans schoolteacher, learned on social media that a 16-year-old girl had run away in February 2024. The next day, JOHNSON found and saved a screenshot of her social media page on his cellular phone. The day after she was reported missing again, in March of 2024, JOHNSON contacted the victim and learned that she was stranded in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Late on the evening of March 14, 2024, JOHNSON drove from his home in New Orleans to Vicksburg, picked up the victim and her friend at 1:30 a.m., and immediately returned to New Orleans using backroads. In the vehicle, JOHNSON told the victim that he would not hurt her because he was a teacher and she was the age of his students. On the ride back, JOHNSON offered the victim alcohol and marijuana.

According to the court documents, the victim and her friend believed JOHNSON would take them to the house of their acquaintance. Instead, JOHNSON brought the minor to his apartment in New Orleans, where he had sex with her in exchange for $200. Shortly thereafter, JOHNSON told the victim that she had to have sex with him again for free of he would kick her out. JOHNSON pressured the victim by, among other things, reminding her that he had taken a risk in going to pick her up. When the victim refused, JOHNSON made the victim, and her friend stand outside in the rain.

Over the next two weeks, JOHNSON continued to contact the victim, even after she blocked his phone number. On one occasion, JOHNSON went to a home where the victim was staying and had sex with the victim in exchange for $100 in cash. On another occasion, JOHNSON learned that the victim was hungry and offered to take her to get seafood. When they arrived at the restaurant, JOHNSON asked the victim what she would do in exchange for food.

Evidence introduced at trial also showed that JOHNSON attempted to pay another minor female for sex in March and April 2024. Even after this juvenile disclosed via text message that she was fifteen years old, JOHNSON continued to pursue her.

United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced JOHNSON to 33 years in prison, to be followed by a life-time term of supervised release. The Court also ordered that JOHNSON participate in the sex offender registration and notification program.

"Today's sentencing confirms that AARON TEROD JOHNSON, has been held accountable for his atrocious actions," stated U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. "As an educator, JOHNSON violated the trust bestowed upon him to protect children; instead he preyed upon a 16-year-old runaway. Human trafficking is a horrific crime that often occurs in the shadows and is commonly underreported. However, due to the courage of the victim of this crime, as evidenced by her cooperation with law enforcement, this ugly, heinous crime was fully exposed. Thanks to the extensive and productive collaboration by our exceptional, dedicated and tenacious prosecution team, Homeland Security Investigations partners, and Victim Assistance specialists, JOHNSON has received his just and deserved punishment."

"As a schoolteacher at the time of his crimes, JOHNSON knew how vulnerable children are and chose to use that knowledge to exploit a runaway minor instead of protecting her," said Matt Wright, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - New Orleans. "That kind of calculated abuse of a position of trust is among the most egregious conduct we see in human trafficking and child exploitation cases. While no sentence can undo the trauma he inflicted, I am proud of the tireless commitment of our special agents and law enforcement partners who worked to ensure this predator was brought to justice."

U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in investigating this matter. This case was prosecuted by Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force Leader, AUSA Maria M. Carboni.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..