La Grande Predator Gets 12+ Years for Snapchat Abuse

PORTLAND, Ore. – A La Grande man will spend more than a decade behind bars after a harrowing case of online exploitation and abuse. Albert Wayne Johnson, 42, was sentenced Wednesday to 151 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for sexually abusing and transporting two minors he connected with on Snapchat.

The nightmare unfolded last August when deputies with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office found two abandoned children at Barton Park in Boring, Oregon. The kids revealed a chilling story: Johnson had driven them across state lines from Washington, through Idaho, and into Oregon, subjecting them to sexual abuse during the entire trip. Investigators later discovered Johnson had abused the children at a motel in Othello, Washington, and continued the abuse at a campground near his home in La Grande.

The predator callously abandoned the children at the Oregon campsite, leaving them to fend for themselves. Fortunately, quick action by law enforcement began to unravel the case. Detectives from the Othello Police Department secured surveillance footage from the Washington motel, clearly showing Johnson with the two victims. This crucial evidence helped build a case against him.

On August 30, 2022, a coordinated effort by multiple agencies – La Grande Police, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Probation, and Umatilla Tribal Police – led to Johnson’s arrest at his La Grande residence on a parole violation warrant. He was subsequently charged with coercing and enticing a minor, and transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. A federal grand jury later added a charge of traveling across state lines to commit a sexual act with a minor and commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender.

Johnson ultimately pleaded guilty on January 24, 2024, to the charge of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady Adams successfully prosecuted the case, bringing a measure of justice to the victims. The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI Pendleton Resident Agency, with vital support from the aforementioned local law enforcement agencies.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking online and the importance of vigilance. Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children to contact the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative dedicated to combating child sexual abuse. Learn more at www.justice.gov/psc.