By Hank Russell
A Farmingville man was found guilty of using physical violence, deception, and narcotics to induce a woman to engage in sexual acts with others for profit. He faces up to 25 years in prison.
In March 2023, Mitchell Johnson reached out to the victim under the guise of being another woman. Once at the motel, he provided the victim with crack cocaine as a means of impairing her judgment to induce her to then engage in paid sexual acts with third parties.
Johnson used the victim’s addiction as a tool to control her and imposed rules upon her that she was required to follow, including that she was not allowed to keep any money for herself and that she was not allowed to leave the motel room alone.
Johnson kept the victim’s identification to prevent her from leaving and threatened her and her family with physical violence if his commands were not obeyed. On one occasion, when Johnson went to the victim’s motel room to ensure her compliance, he forced her to perform oral sex on him. He then withheld drugs from her and strangled her until she lost consciousness.
In May 2023, the victim managed to escape after Johnson directed another person to beat her because of her refusal to engage in sex with buyers. After her escape, she reported her abuse to police.
On December 26, 2024, Johnson was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Stephen L. Braslow for:
- one count of Sex Trafficking (Force), a Class B violent felony
- one count of first-degree criminal sexual act, a Class B violent felony
- four counts of sex trafficking, all Class B felonies
- one count of second-degree promoting prostitution, a Class C felony
- one count of second-degree strangulation, a Class D violent felony
- one count of first-degree sexual abuse, a Class D violent felony
- one count of third-degree criminal sexual act, a Class E felony
Braslow ordered Johnson remanded. Johnson’s next court date was January 10, 2025 in front of Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis.
On March 30, 2026, Johnson, 38, was convicted after a jury trial, heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, of the following charges:
- one count of Sex Trafficking (Force), a Class B violent felony
- two counts of Sex Trafficking, both Class B felonies
- one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree, a Class C felony
“Today’s verdict is a decisive statement that this community will not tolerate the brutal exploitation of vulnerable people,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Mitchell Johnson used drugs, violence, and coercion to trap a woman in a nightmare of sex trafficking for his own profit. Because of this survivor’s extraordinary courage, he now faces justice for the profound harm he inflicted.”
Johnson is due back in court on April 29, 2026, and faces 25 years in prison.