A federal jury in Central Islip has found Michael Johnson, also known as “Wise,” guilty on four counts including sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking, and interstate prostitution. The charges stem from Johnson’s operation of a sex trafficking ring at the Sayville Motor Lodge on Long Island. The verdict was delivered after a two-week trial before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert. Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and could receive up to life imprisonment.
The announcement was made by Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office; and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Police Department.
“Today’s verdict holds the defendant accountable for all of the cruelty and violence to women caused by his depraved sex trafficking,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Johnson and his co-conspirators exhibited utter disregard for the human lives they destroyed by profiting off the backs of vulnerable women. It is my hope that Johnson’s conviction brings some measure of comfort to his victims, including those who bravely testified at the trial.”
Nocella also thanked the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their involvement in the case.
“Michael Johnson trafficked multiple women into sexual slavery to profit off their bodies, while maintaining their subservience through social isolation, physical abuse and threats of death, and addictive drugs,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “For years, Johnson demonstrated extreme depravity as he physically and emotionally traumatized numerous women to satisfy his own greedy desires. May today’s conviction not only provide his victims a glimmer of comfort but also reflect the FBI’s commitment to protecting all vulnerable victims from sexual predators seeking to exploit them for financial gain.”
“Johnson took advantage of vulnerable women, using violence and drugs to control and exploit his victims, forcing them into sex trafficking for his own financial gain,” stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina. “This case serves as a warning to anyone who seeks to manipulate or abuse others — justice will find you. This sentence represents not only accountability, but also a recognition of the courage and strength of the victims who came forward. I commend the dedicated efforts of our detectives and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.”
According to evidence presented at trial, between 2014 and 2022 Johnson worked with others to operate a sex trafficking business out of Sayville Motor Lodge near Sunrise Highway on Long Island. He used force, threats, fraud, coercion—and sometimes drugs—to compel multiple women into commercial sex acts while keeping all proceeds from these activities under strict control measures such as posting online ads and setting rates.
In November 2022 an indictment charged Johnson along with Timothy Bullen; motel owners Narendarakuma Dadarwala (and wife Shardaben Dadarwala); their son Jigar Dadarwala; Ashokbhai Patel; and Himanshu Inc., which operated Sayville Motor Lodge—with conspiracy related offenses including managing drug premises or distributing proceeds from illegal activity.
Co-defendants Narendarakuma Dadarwala and Shardaben Dadarwala pleaded guilty earlier this year alongside Patel; sentencing is pending for these individuals while cases against Bullen and Jigar Dadarwala are ongoing.
Following arrests linked with this investigation in late 2022 federal authorities seized Sayville Motor Lodge property which was later sold in October 2023 partly enabling victim compensation via Department of Justice remission procedures.
The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine M. Mirabile, Anthony Bagnuola, Samantha S. Alessi along with support staff from paralegal specialists through victim witness services.
MICHAEL JOHNSON (also known as “Wise”), age 36 from Selbyville Delaware
Defendants previously convicted:
– NARENDARAKUMA DADARWALA (“Naren,” “Pa” or “Dad”), age 79
– SHARDABEN DADARWALA (“Sharda,” “Ma” or “Mom”), age 72
– ASHOKBHAI PATEL (“BG”), age 61
Defendants awaiting trial:
– TIMOTHY BULLEN (“Trouble,” “T” or “Tiervoni”), age 38
– JIGAR DADARWALA (“Cobra”), age 47
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-494 (S-1) (JS)
