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Father-son bail bondsmen arrested in Northshore human trafficking investigation, police say

The investigation started this month, after police were told the father "...solicited sexual favors from multiple victims in exchange for bond debt relief."

COVINGTON, La. — A bail bondsman with offices in Amite and Covington and his business partner son were arrested on multiple charges Friday after a weeks-long human trafficking investigation, Louisiana State Police officials said. 

53-year-old James Johnson Jr. of Bush, La. and his 31-year-old son, Patrick Johnson, were arrested without incident on Friday in Covington and Amite, respectively, LSP officials said. 

James faces two counts of human trafficking violations, two counts of first-degree rape, and one count of sexual battery. He was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail.

Patrick was booked into the Amite Jail on three counts of possession of pornography involving juveniles after police searched the family's business in Amite, officials said. 

According to LSP officials, the investigation into the father-son bail bondsmen started in March, when detectives were told James had "...solicited sexual favors from multiple victims in exchange for bond debt relief."

On Friday morning, detectives with the state police's Special Victims Unit and New Orleans FBI field agents executed five search warrants at the family's various businesses and properties. 

In that process, they found and seized 27 firearms and discovered evidence of pornography involving juveniles, LSP officials said. 

Those officials said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests and additional charges may be coming. 

James' bail amount had not been set by a judge as of Friday evening, according to the St. Tammany Sheriff's Office's inmate roster online page. 

Whether Patrick's bail had been set by a Tangipahoa Parish judge and that amount were not available as of Friday evening. 

Detectives said there may be additional victims that have not come forward. They ask anyone with information in the case to contact SVU officers at 504-310-7000.

Stay with the Eyewitness News on WWL-TV and WWLTV.com for more on this developing story.

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