Skip to main content
Press Release

Man Convicted Of Unlawful Imprisonment, Strangulation, Suffocation, and Witness Tampering On Indian Reservation

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan

A 39-year-old resident of Saginaw, Michigan, Michael Lee Johnson, was convicted today of unlawful imprisonment, assault of a dating partner by strangulation, assault of a dating partner by suffocation, interstate domestic violence, assault by striking, beating, or wounding, and eight counts of witness tampering by a federal jury in Bay City, Michigan, United States Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today.

At the trial before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington, the evidence established that in October and November of 2018, Johnson held the victim against her will, threatened to kill her, assaulted her numerous time by strangulation, suffocation, and by other means sometimes in front of her children. The evidence also established that after the crimes were committed Johnson attempted to improperly influence or prevent the victim’s testimony in court and her reports to the police. Further two other former intimate partners of defendant testified that he also strangled them in the past and also held them against their will. The crimes occurred on the Isabella Reservation in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  Under the federal sentencing guidelines, Johnson could be sentenced to over 200 years in prison.”  

The case was investigated by the Saginaw Chippewa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roy Kranz and Assistant United States Attorney Tim Turkelson.

Updated August 27, 2019

Topic
Indian Country Law and Justice