RIVERHEAD, NY – A 65-year-old man originally from Barbados has been convicted in Suffolk County of sex trafficking and a string of related charges after prosecutors said he used drugs and violence to force a woman into prostitution across Long Island.
Michael Howell, of Brooklyn, was found guilty by a jury on August 26, 2025, following a trial before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis. He now faces up to 25 years in prison at sentencing next month. Federal immigration officials have also placed a detainer on Howell, meaning he will be deported after serving his time.
Drugs, Violence, and Exploitation
Prosecutors said Howell controlled his victim between April 2023 and February 2024, compelling her to engage in sex acts for money at hotels in Suffolk and surrounding counties. He allegedly posted online ads promoting her and then took all of the earnings.
To maintain control, Howell supplied the victim with crack cocaine and heroin, creating dependency, and used threats and physical violence when she resisted. In one instance, officials said, he slammed her head into a wall. He also claimed she “owed” him money for drugs and lodging to justify his control.
When Howell was arrested on February 1, 2024, investigators said he was carrying fentanyl and a large amount of cocaine.
Jury Conviction on Multiple Counts
Jurors convicted Howell of:
- Two counts of Sex Trafficking (Class B felonies)
- Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree (Class C felony)
- Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree (Class D felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree (Class C felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (Class A misdemeanor)
Howell is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2025.
Prosecutors Praise Victim Support and Law Enforcement
District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said Howell preyed on his victim by weaponizing drugs and violence to keep her dependent and compliant. “The use of addictive substances to keep trafficking victims dependent and compliant is a particularly cruel tactic employed by human traffickers,” Tierney said, crediting the work of prosecutors in the Human Trafficking Unit and the Suffolk County Police Department for securing the conviction.
The case was handled by Assistant District Attorneys Vanessa Overland and Melissa Turk of the DA’s Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias, and Human Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) Unit. Lead Detective Matthew Skulavik, along with Detectives Joseph Collins and Kathleen Aspromgos, conducted the investigation.
Howell’s conviction highlights the hidden but very real presence of human trafficking on Long Island. Prosecutors and investigators say traffickers often operate in plain sight, renting hotel rooms, posting online ads, and exploiting vulnerable people by fueling addictions and using violence as control. The case also demonstrates how specialized units, like Suffolk’s Human Trafficking Unit, play a crucial role in both rescuing victims and holding offenders accountable.
The outcome also carries immigration consequences. As a Barbados national, Howell will face deportation after serving his prison term, reflecting how federal immigration enforcement intersects with serious felony convictions. Beyond one man’s punishment, the case raises larger questions about how communities can better identify and prevent trafficking, and how law enforcement can continue to support survivors while dismantling the networks that profit from exploitation.
