United States of America v. Morrell D. Johnson, a/k/a "Money"

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with sex trafficking of children by force or coercion.

Morrell D. Johnson (35), a.k.a. “Money,” a notorious human trafficker on Milwaukee’s south side, was also a drug trafficker who sold heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. Johnson recruited addicted women to perform commercial sex acts, promising them housing, protection, and reliable access to the drugs upon which they were dependent. Johnson then used the women’s addictions as leverage over them, taking all of the proceeds from the commercial sex acts while adding the cost of the drugs to an ever-mounting debt he claimed they had to repay. If a victim refused to work, tried to leave, or broke Johnson’s rules, he used physical violence and the forcible administration of Narcan as punishments.

Prosecutors argued at sentencing that Johnson used every weapon available to manipulate and terrorize these women, from lies and false promises, to hands, fists, feet, threats, needles, and guns. He even killed a dog to intimidate them. Most infamously, Johnson punished one woman by stripping her naked, beating her, having her sexually assaulted by multiple men, and imprisoning her in a dog cage. At the time of these crimes, Johnson was on community supervision after serving a prison sentence for a prior Kenosha County heroin distribution conviction.

U.S. Attorney Schimel observed that, “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. 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.”

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Stadtmueller repeatedly underscored the “despicable and wild” nature of Johnson’s conduct. He described the “unspeakable manner in which the victims were treated and preyed upon,” finding that Johnson “treat[ed] them like dirt—literally dirt.” Judge Stadtmueller declared that he intended Johnson’s sentence to “ring like a clarion bell across this community and every other,” informing the public that those who engage in this conduct will face “a day of reckoning and it will fall hard.”


“Human trafficking is something that impacts our communities more than we realize. This case was particularly heinous, and no one should be subjected to such violence. We worked together with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure Johnson answered for his crimes” said Chief David Stecker, Oak Creek Police Department. “We are grateful for the survivors’ strength to help secure a lengthy sentencing, and hope this will help the survivors heal and move on from this. We will continue to combat these crimes and ensure our communities remain safe.”

“Human trafficking is a serious problem across the country, including here in our community. We value our partnership with federal agencies, which is essential to holding those responsible for these crimes accountable. These investigations can be complex, and collaboration is essential to successfully bringing these cases forward," said Chief Chris Davis, Green Bay Police Department.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oak Creek Police Department with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Green Bay Police Department.

IMPRISONMENT: 262 months as to Count 1, 240 months as to Count 2, and 180 months as to Count 3, to operate to run concurrently with one another for a total term of 262 months; SUPERVISED RELEASE: 10 years as to Count 1, 3 years as to Count 2, and 3 years as to Count 3, to operate to run concurrently with one another for a total term of 10 years; FINE: Waived; RESTITUTION: $102,420.00; SPECIAL ASSESSMENT: $300.00; JVTA Assessment: Waived.