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Man pleads guilty in human trafficking, racketeering case involving former Falcons player

One of the eight defendants is a former Atlanta Falcons football player, Eric Johnson, who played in the NFL for six seasons.

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Editor's note: The video above is from previous coverage of the case. 

Another man connected to a case involving a former Falcons football player pleaded guilty to trafficking women and children, according to the Georgia Attorney General's Office on Thursday.

The case included a 96-count Gwinnett County grand jury indictment -- obtained by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr as part of his special Gang and Human Trafficking Prosecution Units in February.

One of the eight defendants is a former Atlanta Falcons football player, Eric Johnson, who played in the NFL for six seasons. The indictment accuses the six men and two women of conspiracy, trafficking women for sexual servitude, terrorism, kidnapping, aggravated assault, gang activity and racketeering.

RELATED: Former Falcons football player among 8 alleged gang members charged with trafficking women, racketeering

The latest in the case was 27-year-old Tyreek Lee, from Norcross, who pleaded guilty to trafficking the women while associated with a criminal street gang called LOTTO (Last One to Take Over), which according to authorities is a hybrid of the Gangster Disciples and Crips national gangs.

Courts said the 27-year-old pleaded guilty on Nov. 20 to charges including: 

  • Three counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude
  • Six counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
  • One count of Conspiracy to Violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

For each count, the office said the 27-year-old was sentenced to 20 years, with the first 10 years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation. Each sentence is to be served concurrently - meaning his full prison time would be 10 years.

More about the case

An investigation by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office led to the indictment of eight alleged members of the LOTTO gang on February 8, according to authorities.

The indictment charges them with Conspiracy to Violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, alleging the trafficking of five female victims, including a minor, to bolster LOTTO's reputation. 

Seven defendants, including the 27-year-old, face additional charges, such as Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. 

   

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