A 38-year-old Farmingville man has been sentenced to 15 to 21 years in prison after a jury convicted him of sex trafficking and related charges stemming from a scheme that used drugs, threats, and violence to exploit a woman, Suffolk County prosecutors said.
Mitchell Johnson was sentenced April 29 following his March conviction after a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Johnson was found guilty of one count of sex trafficking by force, two additional counts of sex trafficking, and one count of promoting prostitution in the second degree.
Prosecutors said the case centered on conduct that began in March 2023, when Johnson allegedly contacted the victim while pretending to be another woman. Authorities said the victim was lured to a motel, where Johnson provided her with crack cocaine to impair her judgment and induce her to engage in paid sexual acts with others.
Investigators said Johnson used the victim’s addiction to maintain control, enforcing strict rules that prevented her from keeping any money and from leaving the motel room alone. Prosecutors also said he threatened the victim and her family with physical harm if she did not comply with his demands.
District Attorney Raymond Tierney said the sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the harm caused to the victim.
Under New York law, sex trafficking by force is classified as a Class B violent felony, one of the most serious categories of criminal offenses. The additional sex trafficking counts are also Class B felonies, while promoting prostitution in the second degree is a Class C felony. As part of his sentence, Johnson will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Katherine Flinchum and Sean Murphy of the district attorney’s Human Trafficking unit. The investigation was conducted by Detective Kathleen Aspromgos of the Suffolk County Police Department.
Johnson’s sentencing concludes the criminal proceedings following his conviction.
Photo: SCDA.
