Cedar Rapids man charged in federal court with sex trafficking a child

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man charged in federal court with attempted sex trafficking of a child and destroying evidence will remain in jail pending his trial.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Roberts, during a detention hearing on Monday, ruled that Joshua Johnson, 49, would remain in jail without bond until the July 15 trial in U.S. District Court.

Johnson was indicted May 9 for attempted sex trafficking on Dec. 6, 2023, and destruction of evidence. He is accused of attempting to recruit, entice, obtain, patronize and solicit a person he believed to be under age 14 to engage in a commercial sex act.

He also is accused of destroying electronic data on Dec. 7, 2023, with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence the investigation.

Court documents don’t provide further details of the incidents.

If convicted, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and possibly up to life, a $500,000 fine, and five years or more of supervised release following any prison term.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Tremmel and is being investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

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