Morrell Johnson
MILWAUKEE - A man federal authorities described as a violent trafficker who preyed on vulnerable women on Milwaukee’s south side will spend more than two decades behind bars.
What we know:
35-year-old Morrell Johnson, also known as "Money," was sentenced to 262 months in prison after he pleaded guilty in November to sex trafficking six adult survivors, maintaining a drug-involved premise and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.
According to court records, Johnson sold heroin, cocaine and fentanyl while recruiting women struggling with addiction. Prosecutors said he promised housing, protection and steady access to drugs, then used those dependencies to control them, keeping the proceeds and adding drug costs to debts he claimed they owed.
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If someone refused to work, tried to leave or violated his rules, authorities said Johnson used violence and even forced Narcan as punishment. Prosecutors argued he relied on threats, weapons and humiliation to maintain power, at one point killing a dog to intimidate victims. One incident reportedly involved confining a woman to a dog cage.
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January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. On Friday, Jan. 16, officials shared state-specific human trafficking information.
At the time, Johnson was on community supervision after a previous Kenosha County conviction for heroin distribution.
What they're saying:
"Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and is among the most damaging and dehumanizing of any crime. It is also the most difficult for which to hold offenders accountable due to the intense manipulation, fear, and violence inflicted on the survivors," Interim U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel said. "Several survivors came forward in this case, and some even were present for sentencing. Our community is free from a truly evil predator thanks to the courage and strength of these survivors and the remarkable work of the FBI Human Trafficking Task Force agents and the incredible prosecutors and crime victim advocates who made such a successful conclusion possible."
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During the hearing, judge J.P. Stadtmueller repeatedly condemned Johnson’s actions, referring to the conduct as "despicable and wild."
He said he wanted the punishment to "ring like a clarion bell across this community and every other," warning that those who commit similar crimes will face "a day of reckoning, and it will fall hard."
Dig deeper:
The case was investigated by the FBI and Oak Creek police, with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Green Bay police.
The Source: The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin provided information in this report.