CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — A man who operated a years-long trafficking ring out of a Sayville motel was sentenced Wednesday to 22 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.
Michael Johnson, 37, also known as “Wise,” was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Central Islip after being convicted of trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking, and interstate prostitution following a jury trial in October 2025. Authorities said the operation was based at the Sayville Motor Lodge, located near Sunrise Highway on Long Island.
Prosecutors said Johnson and his co-conspirators trafficked multiple women between approximately 2014 and 2022, using force, threats, fraud, and coercion to compel them into commercial sex acts.
According to evidence presented at trial, Johnson controlled the victims by confiscating the money they earned, setting prices, and posting advertisements online. Authorities said he also used drugs to manipulate the women, supplying and withholding substances to maintain control, while isolating them and subjecting them to physical, emotional, and psychological abuse.
Several victims testified that Johnson used violence and threats, including rape and carrying a firearm, to instill fear and maintain control.
The broader investigation revealed the Sayville Motor Lodge was not only a base for trafficking, but also a hub for narcotics activity. Authorities said heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine were openly used and sold at the property, with drug dealers paying to operate there. Prosecutors said at least one of the trafficking victims was a minor.
Investigators also alleged that individuals tied to the motel facilitated the criminal activity by warning traffickers when police were nearby and allowing both prostitution and drug activity to continue for years. Prosecutors said the operation involved multiple co-conspirators, including members of the Dadarwala family and associates.
The case stems from a 2022 federal indictment charging several individuals connected to the motel with trafficking conspiracy and related offenses. Narendarakuma Dadarwala, 79, and Shardaben Dadarwala, 72, both of Sayville, along with Ashokbhai Patel, 61, of Omaha, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Charges remain pending against Timothy Bullen, 38, of Bay Shore, and Jigar Dadarwala, 47, of Sayville.
Federal authorities seized the Sayville Motor Lodge following the arrests. The property was later sold in 2023 for $2 million, with a portion of the proceeds designated for forfeiture to the federal government and potential compensation for victims.
Sex trafficking is a federal offense that carries significant prison time, particularly when force, threats, or coercion are involved. Johnson’s 22-year sentence reflects the severity of the charges and the years-long scope of the operation, which prosecutors said caused lasting harm to vulnerable victims.
Restitution for the victims will be determined at a later date, according to prosecutors.
Photo: Google Maps.
